Haryana RTI Commission Imposes Rs 25,000 Penalty on Gurgaon Officer for Information Delay
In a decisive move to uphold transparency and accountability, the Haryana State Information Commission has levied a penalty of Rs 25,000 on a senior town planning officer for failing to provide information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act within the mandated timeframe and for disregarding multiple official notices. This action underscores the commission's commitment to enforcing legal obligations for public officials.
Officer and Order Details
The penalty targets RS Batth, who served as the state public information officer (SPIO) and district town planner (enforcement) in Gurgaon at the time of the violation and is now posted with the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA). State Information Commissioner Kulbir Chhikara issued the order on March 12, 2026, following a prolonged period of non-compliance in a complaint initiated by Delhi-based applicant Nitin Garg.
On April 8, the commission disseminated the order to key officials, including the director general of town and country planning, the drawing and disbursing officer of GMDA, and Batth himself, with explicit instructions for immediate compliance. Referencing an earlier notice dated February 26, 2026, the commission mandated all parties to act without delay and submit a compliance report, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
Background and Violations
The case originated from an RTI application filed on May 6, 2022, seeking specific details from the town and country planning department. Despite a clear directive from the first appellate authority on December 14, 2022, the information was not furnished within the prescribed period. The commission noted that Batth neither complied with the order nor provided any reasonable justification for the delay, highlighting a significant lapse in duty.
Over nearly two years, the matter involved multiple hearings and notices. As documented in the order, Batth failed to appear before the commission and did not respond to repeated show-cause notices issued on June 20, 2025, November 3, 2025, January 28, 2026, and February 26, 2026. The commission characterized this behavior as demonstrating a "lack of diligence" and a clear violation of the RTI Act, 2005, which mandates timely disclosure of information.
Legal Basis and Penalty Enforcement
Invoking Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, the commission deemed this a fit case for penalty, stressing that public officials are legally bound to provide information promptly. The order also cited a 2014 Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment in Chander Kanta vs State Information Commission and Others, which mandates penalties for unjustified delays or denials of information, reinforcing the legal precedent for such actions.
Under the order, the Rs 25,000 penalty will be recovered from Batth's salary in two instalments or within 60 days, with the amount to be deposited under the designated government head for RTI penalties. The commission has directed the director general of town and country planning and the drawing and disbursing officer of GMDA to ensure compliance and submit a report, while the registrar of the state information commission will monitor the recovery process to guarantee timely execution.
Officer's Response and Commission's Emphasis
A senior commission official highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that the directions require "immediate compliance by the respondent, with intimation to the commission," thereby underscoring the binding nature of the ruling. In response, Batth commented, "I have to check the matter and surely will apprise the facts to the honourable commission, and all compliances will be made."
This case serves as a stark reminder of the accountability mechanisms under the RTI Act, aiming to deter future non-compliance and promote transparency in governance across Haryana and beyond.
