2023-08-05 18:48:19
Kottayam: 729 officials have been punished over a period of ten years for violating the law by not giving proper answers to RTI requests. A fine of Rs 37.29 lakh was also collected from them. The action of the State Right to Information Commission is for the period from January 1, 2013 to April 30, 2023. Departmental action was taken once morest seven of them. The highest fine was levied in 2022 – Rs 6.11 lakh.
The RTI Officer of the respective department should reply to the queries seeking information by pasting the court fee stamp on the white paper within 30 days. Officials make the lame excuse that the information is not codified and preserved. If no reply is received, the information must be provided within 30 days for the first appeal and within 90 days for the second appeal. The commission punished the officials who did not pay this in the sitting. The fine ranges from 1000 to 25,000 rupees. A hefty fine of Rs 25,000 has been imposed on more than fifty officials.
Ahead of concealment
Police, Vigilance, Revenue, Local Government and Devaswom Departments
Applications are pending
More than 5,000 appeals are pending with the RTI Commission. There are 24 applications from 10 years ago. The Commission should consider the applications and take action once morest the officials. No application has been considered following 2020. Appeals will be reduced if officials respond.
Penalty levied
2013…………………………… 3,65,815
2014…………………………….5,636,52
2015…………………………… 2,03,000
2016……………………………. 1,88,500
2017……………………………. 2,98,250
2018…………………………….2,34,500
2019…………………………….3,05,500
2020…………………………….1,60,000
2021…………………………… 2,86,000
2022……………………………. 6,11,250
2023…………………………… 5,12,750
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