Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 24 2009:
Acting on a complaint filed ATSUM ex-general secretary W Shinglai, ex-vice president of Anal Students' Union PS Mono and one Khelkhoneh Haokip against the failure of the SPIO/Director of the Directorate of Schedule Tribes and Schedule Castes to provide relevant documents of Development of Tribals and scheduled castes, Manipur under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan for the years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, the Manipur State Chief Information Commissioner has issued an order asking the SPIO to pay Rs 15,500 to the complainants as fine for delay in furnishing the information sought.
The complainants filed as application to the SPIO on March 3, 2009 seeking the particular information and documents under RTI Act.
With no response forthcoming from the SPIO, the three applicants filed a complaint petition to the Manipur Information Commission on May 4 this year.
Subsequently a notice was served to the SPIO but the SPIO failed to give any response.
After taking up the case as a complaint case, the case was heard on June 11, June 20 and June 30 this year.
Later on July 7, the Manipur Information Commission issued an order asking the SPIO to furnish the information sought for on or before July 17 together with a show cause notice.
But as the SPIO could not provide the information sought, the Manipur Information Commission issued another order on July 20 imposing a fine of Rs 15,500 on the SPIO for the delay in providing the information sought.
It asked the SPIO to deposit the amount in form of Challan under the Major Head of Account 0070-other Administrative Services within thirty days from July 20 .
It further directed the SPIO to provide the information sought within a week from July 20 .
In case, it is due to the non submission and failure to provide assistance by subordinate officers, as reported by the SPIO, the same including details of the officers and respective information withheld may be reported to the Information Commission with a week so that the Commission may take up their case under Section 5 (4 &5) of the RTI Act 2005, mentioned the order.