The Commission gave one more chance to the CPIO, Dept. of Posts, Bijnour to appear for a hearing before the Commission along with his explanation to the show cause notice on 1.2.2010 at 12.00 noon.
The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the hearing for February 1, 2010. Shri Rameshwar Dayal, PIO represented the Public Authority.
Decision
Shri Rameshwar Dayal, PIO submitted that he came to know about the RTI application dated 3.7.09 only on receipt of the hearing notice from CIC in its order dated 11.12.09 and that immediately after receiving the notice, information was provided to the Appellant. He added that he had sought an explanation vide letter dt.27.1.10 from the concerned Post Master to whom the RTI application was addressed, who vide his letter dt.29.1.10 admitted that the RTI application was received on 4.7.09 but due to his preoccupation with other work, he could not take action on it. Mr. Dayal further added that he had directed the Post Master to appear for the hearing at the Commission but the Post Master has stayed away with the excuse that he is unwell.
It was noted by the Commission that Mr. Dayal was not responsible for the delay in furnishing information and hence the penalty proceedings against him are dropped. However the Commission would like to convey its displeasure at the flippant manner in which Mr.Jayaram Singh, the Post Master, Bijnour has dealt with the RTI application
as the deemed PIO, by just putting it aside until the PIO asked for it on receipt of the order from the Commission and hence directs him to show cause as to why the RTI application was not transferred to the PIO within 5 days of its receipt, as stipulated in the RTI Act. He is directed to submit his written response so as to reach the Commission by 28.2.2010.
