In a strong move to uphold transparency, the Information Commission has imposed significant fines on two officials in North Bengaluru for failing to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The officials have been penalized a total of Rs 50,000 for repeated delays in providing crucial land and property documents to local residents.
Details of the Penalty and Non-Compliance
The commission levied a fine of Rs 25,000 each on North Bengaluru sub-divisional officer Kiran and tahsildar Madhuraj in two separate cases. The penalties were a direct consequence of their consistent failure to provide requested information within the legally mandated timeframe and their neglect in appearing before the commission during inquiry proceedings.
The cases stemmed from applications filed by citizens seeking clarity on their property documents. Venkatesh, a resident of Belathuru Colony, had sought records related to his land in K Dommasandra village from the sub-divisional officer. After not receiving the information, he was forced to escalate the matter to the commission.
In the parallel case, Chandrappa from Malagalu village requested documents concerning his family property from Tahsildar Madhuraj. Despite multiple notices from the commission, the official chose to ignore them, leading to the disciplinary action.
A Pattern of Delays and Previous Actions
This is not an isolated incident. The Information Commission has previously taken similar strict action against other officials in the Bengaluru region for dereliction of their duties under the RTI Act. The list includes:
- South Bengaluru assistant commissioner (AC) Vishwanath
- Doddaballapur AC Durgashree
- KR Pura tahsildar Raju
- Devanahalli tahsildar Anil
All were held accountable for unjustifiably delaying information to applicants, highlighting a systemic issue that the commission is actively addressing.
Commission's Directive and Future Implications
The commission has reiterated a clear mandate for all public officials. They must either provide the requested information or an interim response within the stipulated time period as per the RTI law. Non-compliance will not be tolerated and can lead to severe repercussions.
Beyond the monetary fines, the commission has also issued showcause notices to the erring officials and, in a significant step, directed the state government to initiate departmental action against them. This underscores the seriousness with which such lapses are viewed, as they undermine the fundamental right to information for citizens.
The action serves as a stern warning to all government departments and officials across Karnataka to prioritize transparency and adhere to the provisions of the RTI Act, ensuring citizens can access information without undue hassle.
