Talati fined for refusing info

TIMES NEWS NETWORK : Ahmedabad: After receiving several complaints from applicants from villages across Gujarat regarding the callous attitude of officials at village local bodies while responding to Right to Information (RTI) applications, state chief information commissioner RN Das imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on a village ‘talati’ of Kukvara village in Mehsana district on Wednesday.
The fine was imposed as the ‘talati’ did not furnish information regarding the status of implementation of various Central government employment schemes to an applicant. Prahlad Patel of Kukvara village had demanded the status of implementation of Jawahar Rozgar Yojna in his village. Patel had also demanded copies of receipts of payment to villagers under this scheme from the ‘talati’. The information demanded was for the last five years. Patel had also asked for the financial assistance extended by the state to these programmes for this scheme.
Das noted that the information sought for by Patel was supposed to be disclosed under proactive disclosure to the public at the panchayat level. In his defence, the talati pleaded that he was on a 20-day leave and that he had lot of work and could not reply to Patel in time. Patel had demanded the information on March 6 last year. The state information commission also ordered that the Administrative Reforms Training Division of the General Administration Department of Gujarat organise training sessions for officials at village-level and report to the commission within three months.
Publication: Times Of India Ahmedabad; Date:2007 Feb 15; Section:Ahmedabad; Page Number 2