Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 05 2010:
Manipur Information Commission has directed Secretariat, Education Department (Schools) to pay Rs 1 lakh to one Bidyabati Laishram of Palace Compound as compensation for non-compliance of an earlier order of the Commission by authorities of Education Department (Schools) .
A statement issued today informed of the Commission in its ruling on September 10, 2007 directing the additional Director of Education (Schools/Valley) to allot Bidyabati Laishram (Roll No 1303) the same marks secured by the last candidate in the select list of Science Graduate Teachers (general) in the written test and viva voce conducted by the Directorate of Education (Schools), Govt of Manipur in the year 2006.The Additional Director of education (Schools), the then SPIO, was also asked to submit show cause within seven days of the said ruling why penalty amount of Rs 25,000 and recommendation for disciplinary action should not be initiated for failing to furnish information as sought by the petitioner (Bidyabati).
As the respondents had neither processed relevant action as the applicant had sought under RTI nor heeded the Commission's directive, the panel in a recent ruling (January 21, 2010) by the State Chief Information Commissioner RK Angousana conveyed its strong displeasure against the attitude of the Education Department authorities and thereby imposed the penalty of an enhanced amount of Rs 1 lakh within one month.
The Commission cited mental and physical suffering of the petitioner in her pursuit for justice for imposing the monetary penalty.