4 days ago
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The Andhra Pradesh Information Commission has imposed a punishment of ₹25,000 connected the Director of the Mines and Geology Department for negligence successful implementing the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
As per the bid dated May 15, 2026, a transcript of which was accessed by The Hindu, State Information Commissioner Chavali Suneel, portion proceeding a complaint, had directed that enactment beryllium taken against W.B. Chandrasekhar, who, astatine the clip of the alleged negligence, was Public Information Officer (PIO). He is presently Director and First Appellate Authority successful the department.
According to the Commission, the complainant, P. Srinivasa Babu of Visakhapatnam, had sought accusation nether the Act successful July 2022. However, the section failed to furnish the aforesaid wrong the statutory 30-day period. Despite appeals, nary due effect was provided, prompting the complainant to attack the Information Commission successful January 2023.
During inquiry, the Commission noted that repeated directions issued to the serviceman acrophobic were ignored. The serviceman neither appeared personally earlier the Commission nor provided a satisfactory mentation for the delay. Though the accusation was yet furnished aft sizeable delay, the Commission observed that belated compliance could not warrant usurpation of the Act.
Describing the Act arsenic a cornerstone of democracy, the Commission warned that negligence by officials successful implementing the instrumentality would invitation strict action. It treated the officer’s nonaccomplishment to discharge statutory responsibilities and disregard of Commission directives arsenic superior misconduct warranting penalty.
The Commission directed the Principal Secretary of the Industries and Commerce (Mines) Department to retrieve ₹25,000 from the salary, oregon remuneration of Mr. Chandrasekhar, and remit the magnitude to the authorities treasury. A compliance study was sought wrong 4 weeks.
Mr. Chandrasekhar had retired from regular authorities service, but was continuing successful nationalist work pursuant to his reappointment by the authorities arsenic Director & First Appellate Authority, Mines & Geology Department, the bid transcript said.
