TURA: The District Horticulture Office cum PIO of the Horticulture Department in South Garo Hills has reportedly assured to furnished necessary details in connection with the RTI filed by the AYWO within 30 days after the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) directed the official to furnish the same as early as possible, during a hearing on the issue on Saturday last week.
The CIC while directing the official to give the information free of cost on account of the delay already caused by the office informed that the quantum of penalty would depend on the number of days he took to give the information to the complainant. “The longer he takes, the higher the penalty would be and the number of days would be calculated from the date of this Order and the final order on the quantum of penalty shall be made after the compliance report is received” the order by the CIC read.
The order directed the office to inform the commission of its compliance as soon as it is done showing the acknowledgement of receipt of the information by the complainant. It also directed the PIO to issue clear instruction to his office staff that ‘RTI application need not be submitted to personally to the PIO or APIO but can be submitted to any official in the concerned office’. The issuance of office instruction towards this purpose clearly identifying who should receive the RTI application was also directed by the commission.
The department has time till November 16, when the given 30 days will expire, to furnish all necessary details sought for in the RTI failing which, the AYWO asserted that it would seek justice before the court of law.
