Journalism of Courage
State Information Commissioner (SIC) Ravindra Jadhav has slapped a fine of Rs 3,000 against the village development officer of Haveli for failing to provide Section 4 information to an applicant. Jadhav gave this order while hearing an appeal filed by Madhukar Pandit, a resident of Haveli.
Pandit had asked for Section 4 information regarding the office of the village development officer of the Wagholi village in Haveli taluka. During the hearing of the appeal, when the SIC asked the information officer on why the information was not given on time, both the public information officer (PIO) and the First Appellate Authority (FAA) had no answers. The minutes of the hearing shows that the PIO agreed that he had not sent the information on time.
Summing up the case, Jadhav pointed out how this was a brazen flouting of the RTI Act. Jadhav then went on to fine the PIO Rs 3,000 which is to be recovered from the pay of the officer.
