The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has received flak from the Central Information Commission for its failure to provide information to an RTI applicant and claiming otherwise. The curious case came before the Central Information Commission where an MCD official, when questioned by Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi during the hearing, said information sought by the applicant has been furnished. When grilled, the official Jagdish Prasad, produced a reply which said, "Since this information is time consuming the department may prepare the information, as and when report will be compiled and it will be provided to you as early as possible".
Such a reply prompted a stern warning from Gandhi. "The Commission warns the PIO not to send people for hearings who do not have the capacity of understanding what information is," he said. The case relates to one Swarn Kumari Sharma of Karol Bagh who was trying for last one year to know details of Assured Career Progression scheme of teachers in MCD schools but was not provided any response to her questions. The RTI Act mandates furnishing of information within a month of application.
"From the facts before the Commission, it is apparent that the PIO and the deemed PIO are guilty of not furnishing information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of Section 7 by not replying within 30 days, as per the requirement of the RTI Act," Gandhi said while issuing showcause notice to officials of the MCD. "Mrs Vijaylaxmi then PIO and Deemed PIO Mr Jagdish Prasad, School Inspector will present themselves before the Commission...alongwith their written submissions showing cause why penalty should not be imposed on them as mandated under Section 20 (1)," he said.
