Fines by new info chief leave PIOs gasping Penalty to the tune of Rs7.3 lakh levied in only three months

Fines by new info chief leave PIOs gasping

Penalty to the tune of Rs7.3 lakh levied in only three months

Nearly a month ago, a public information officer (PIO) with the BMC fainted at the state information commission’s hearing. A health patient, the officer couldn’t handle the fine of Rs25,000 levied on him. To calm him down, the 40-something officer was taken into the air conditioned chamber of the personal assistant of the state chief information commissioner (CIC). The officer was given a cup of coffee, a glass of cold water, and then assured that he was not the only one being fined. The state CIC, Ratnakar Gaikwad, has left a large number of PIOs in equal shock, by levying fines in the last three months that are almost at par with the cumulative fine of the preceding three years. Since taking charge, Gaikwad has fined 51 PIOs, the amount crossing Rs7.3 lakh. The fine levied by the chief’s bench during the calendar year (Jan to Dec) 2011 was only Rs 1.87 lakh from 14 PIOs, as there was a vacancy in the state chief’s post at the time. After July 2011, the chief’s post was only given as additional charge to other commissioners, who were busy with other things to be able to pay full attention to the job at hand. However, if the figure is compared with the preceding year when the bench had a full-time commissioner, the amount is still higher. In 2010, the total fine imposed was Rs 4.32 lakhs form 32 PIOs. In 2009, the fine amount was Rs 3.61 lakhs from 55 PIOs. The amounts fined per individual this year is highest, to begin with. A large number of PIOs have been fined Rs25,000 — the highest fine under the RTI Act. As per figures, 20 PIOs were fined Rs 25,000. The same fine was levied on one PIO in 2009, none in 2010, and four in 2011. It should be noted that while the state chief’s bench can hear cases across Maharasthra, the fines levied have been mostly on authorities in Mumbai, other than two officers from Sangli and Thane. “The idea is to send a stern message to PIOs who do not give information, and do not even have a satisfactory explanation for it,” Gaikwad says. Gaikwad said that the commission had requested the government to ask head of authorities to follow-up with the fines and inform the commission of the same.