INFORMATION COMMISSION IMPOSES PENALTY OF RS. 25000/- ON THE OFFICIALS ON HIGHER EDUCATION FOR DELAYING INFORMATION.

CHANDIGARH 03.03.2016 - Yoginder Paul Gupta, Haryana Information Commissioner has imposed the penalty of Rs. 25000/- on three officials of the Directorate of Higher Education; for not providing information to Pardeep Rapria, an Advocate practicing in the High Court. Applicant Pardeep Rapria, in the year 2013 had sought information in connection with the revised criteria for the selection of Principals & Assistant Professors in the Non-Govt. aided colleges. Getting no response from the PIO, therefore, the applicant filed an appeal with the office of Director General. However, there was no response of appeal; therefore, the applicant had to knock the doors of the Information Commission. Curiously, during the hearing before Commission, in the absence of the applicant, Smt. Anita Jain, Supdt. Higher Education, now Assistant Director, took please she had written a letter within time to applicant asking to deposit an amount of Rs. 60/- towards charges for providing information and on failure to deposit fee the desired information was not provided . Keeping in view the plea of the Smt. Anita Jain Shri Yoginder Gupta dismissed the appeal of the applicant. Curiously, as a matter of fact, the applicant had not received any such letter demanding fee. Therefore, applicant had to file one more RTI application seeking copy of the letter sent along with Speed Post Receipt and Dispatch Register of Higher Education. Against there was complete silence on the part of the officials of the Higher Education even after receiving appeal. Curiously, again, the matter reached before the Information Commissioner; where it was revealed that there was no proof of sending the letter to applicant demanding Rs. 60/-

            The Information Commission issued show cause notice to the present Dy. Superintendent Samsher who replied that he had joined subsequent to the transfer of former Dy. Supdt. Naresh Chauhan and Virender Godara; who further took plea that one Assistant Naresh Chauhan was responsible for not providing information. The Commission dropped the penalty against the Assistant by holding that the senior officers can not pass their responsibility to the lower staff member and imposed penalty of Rs. 25,000/- on the present Dy. Superintendent Shamsher, and Dy. Supdt. Virender Godara, , the then Dy. Supdt. Naresh Chauhan, presently posted in the Elementary Education.  The Drawing and Disbursing Officer has been directed by the Commission to deduct the money from the salary of the officials by 05.04.2016.