The Punjab State Information Commission has come down heavily on the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar for its failure to trace crucial records related to a prominent commercial building in the city. Chief Information Commissioner Inderpal Singh issued detailed directions, flagging grave concerns over record management, enforcement of building laws, and public accountability under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
An Appeal Exposes Systemic Failures
The case stemmed from an appeal filed by an Amritsar resident seeking information about the multi-storeyed Ganpati Tower on Lawrence Road. The appellant requested details including the property's ownership, sanctioned building plans, parking provisions, any violations from the approved plan, and action taken by authorities.
During proceedings, the Public Information Officer from the Town Planning Wing stated that without a General Registration (GR) number, they could not locate the building's records. They admitted to providing only property tax-related information. The officer further claimed no recent construction activity had occurred and no on-site survey was done as no formal complaint was received, adding that an RTI application cannot be treated as a complaint.
Commission Rejects Corporation's Plea
The Commission noted the department remained silent on the fact that Ganpati Tower is a large complex with over 75 shops across five floors in a posh area, allegedly lacking adequate parking. It expressed dissatisfaction with the Town Planning Wing's plea that the sanctioned map could not be retrieved.
Highlighting that the Department of Local Government has its own Chief Vigilance Officer and handles numerous complaints statewide, the Commission found the explanation untenable for such a significant commercial structure.
High-Level Inquiry Ordered for 2026
Exercising powers under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005, the Commission directed a copy of its order be sent to the Principal Secretary of the Punjab Local Government Department for a thorough enquiry. A specific report must be submitted by the next hearing on January 14, 2026.
The enquiry must address several critical issues:
- Whether insisting on a GR number is justified when the building's complete details and address are known.
- What actions the department has taken to independently retrieve the building plan details.
- The capability of municipal corporations across Punjab to retrieve building plan information on their own.
- Whether a commercial building can be legally constructed without adequate parking facilities.
This directive underscores a significant accountability lapse in urban governance and sets a precedent for enforcing transparency in municipal operations across Punjab.
