ADC Jammu takes commission for a ride, SIC orders enquiry

Mismanagement of RTI cell in DC office

Early Times Plus.

SUMIT SHARMA JAMMU, July 4: Deputy Commissioner, Jammu has been directed by State Information Commission (SIC) to hold an inquiry to fix responsibility of any official if found guilty of causing delay in furnishing the information to the information seeker and also initiate /recommend disciplinary action against the official concerned under Service Rules as applicable to him. The directions came following the allegations by the information seeker that the ADC Jammu, who happens to be the PIO mislead the commission. The RTI activist Raman Sharma R/o K-236 Mast Garh, Jammu moved an application dated 17-09-2012 under J&K RTI Act, 2009 before the PIO office of Deputy Commissioner, Jammu seeking the information including total number of licenses issued by District Magistrate Jammu under J&K Cinematography Act, 1989 to cinema theatres for public exhibition of films and movies for the last three years, details of action taken by District Magistrate, Jammu on violation of Sections 3, 4 and 5 of J&K Cinematography Act, 1989 during last three years, seeks the copy of list of members of Board of Film Censors along with their designations and tenure, as enshrined in J&K Cinematography Act, 1989, the list of orders along with numbers and date if any, passed by the State Govt. vide Sections 7,8 and 9 of J&K Cinematography Act, 1989. The information seeker in his complaint dated 14-02-2013 filed before the Commission and alleged that no information till date has been provided to him by the PIO and the PIO has also not intimated him about his right to file an appeal before the FAA. He further alleged that the situation created due to inaction on the part of PIO constrained him to file the complaint before the Commission rather than preferring an appeal before the 1st Appellate Authority. The information seeker also prayed that the Commission may after verifying the facts initiate appropriate action against the respondent as enshrined in the RTI Act. Dr Ravi Shankar Sharma, Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Jammu / PIO (Now transferred) appeared in person before the Commission and informed the Commission that the information was dispatched by ordinary post vide office letter no. DCJ/PIO/RTI/2012-13/3080 dated 17-10-2012 to the information seeker. He also submitted a letter bearing no.DCJ/misc//12-13/4693 dated 17-10-2012 addressed to PIO / Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu by Jr. Assistant Misc. Section containing the information as requested by the information seeker in his RTI application. Both these letters have been placed in the file for reference and record. Reacting over the reply, Raman Sharma, the information seeker, vehemently denied in his complaint the receipt of any such communication from the office of PIO / Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Jammu and alleged that the information had been deliberately denied to him. The Commission, keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter, directed Deputy Commissioner, Jammu to hold an inquiry in order to fix up the responsibility of any official if found guilty of causing delay in furnishing the information to the information seeker and also initiate /recommend disciplinary action against the official concerned under Service Rules as applicable to him. The Deputy Commissioner, Jammu is further directed to file compliance report to the Commission within one month from the date of receipt of this order. It is alleged that, though the direction was forwarded to DC Jammu for compliance of report, but commission remained at receiving end. The information seeker has applied to second appellant authority but here again after lapse of one month; the information seeker is waiting for justice. http://www.earlytimeplus.com/newsdet.aspx?q=7535    published in early times plus on 05/07/2013