Karnataka Information Commission imposes ₹50,000 penalty on five officials for RTI lapses

The Kalaburagi Bench of the Karnataka Information Commission has imposed a fine of ₹10,000 each on five Public Information Officers (PIOs) for failing to provide information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, and for not complying with the Commission’s directions.

State Information Commissioner B. Venkata Singh passed the orders while hearing second appeals filed by applicants who had not received the information they had sought within the stipulated period. The total penalty imposed on the five officials amounts to ₹50,000.

The officials fined are Suryakanth, former First Division Assistant at the Basavakalyan City Municipal Council; Mallikarjun, Secretary of Bolamanadoddi Gram Panchayat in Raichur district; Abhay Kumar, Environmental Engineer at the Kalaburagi City Corporation; Gurappa Nayak, Secretary of Jumlapur Gram Panchayat in Kushtagi taluk; and Ravikumar, Secretary of Nagalapur Gram Panchayat in Hospet taluk.

According to the Commission’s order, the officials failed to comply with directions to furnish information to the appellants and submit copies of the information provided, along with acknowledgements of receipt, to the Commission.

The Commission has directed the respective superior officers to deduct the penalty amounts from the officials’ salaries for the coming month, deposit it under the account head specified by the Commission and submit the receipts as proof of payment.

The officials have also been directed to provide the pending information to the appellants immediately on receipt of the order and submit copies of the information and acknowledgements to the Commission. They have been asked to appear before the Commission at the next hearing.

The directions were issued under Section 18(3) of the RTI Act, 2005. The Commission warned that failure to comply could invite action under Section 20(2) of the Act. It also directed the first appellate authorities concerned to take appropriate action, warning that failure to do so could lead to recommendations for disciplinary action.