Team Herald
MARGAO: In an order passed by the Goa State Information Commission (GSIC), Mamlatdar of Salcete has been ordered to pay Rs 6,000 as penalty for contravention of Section 7 (1) of the Act and for not complying with the order of commission.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The above order has been passed by Sanjay Dhavalikar, State Information Commissioner, pertaining to the petition filed by Querobino Gomes of Praca de Rachol.
As stated in the order, the complainant had sought certain information from Public Information Officer (PIO) Laxmikant Dessai, Mamlatdar of Salcete. Complainant did not receive complete information in spite of the direction of the First Appellate Authority (FAA), hence, filed a second appeal before the Commission.
“The Commission while disposing of the said appeal directed the PIO to furnish remaining information. However, the direction was not complied by the PIO, hence complainant approached the Commission by way of complaint under Section 18 of the Act,” it further stated.
The Commission stated that subscribing to the notion laid down in the above mentioned judgements, the PIO is required to furnish correct and complete information in a time bound manner, similarly, the PIO is mandated to comply with the direction of the appellate authority designated under the Act.
In the present matter, it has been established that the PIO has failed to honour the provisions of the Act and he has no concern to his obligations under the Act. Such conduct of the PIO is totally unacceptable vis-a-vis the intent of the Act and thus the Commission is completely convinced and is of the firm opinion that this is a fit case for imposing penalty under Section 20 (1) of the Act of the PIO, the order stated.
The Commission has directed that the aforesaid amount of penalty shall be deducted from the salary of PIO in two installments of equal amount of Rs 3,000 each beginning from the salary of the month of December 2022 to January 2023, and the amount shall be credited to the government treasury.
