Wayanad: The Kerala State Information Commission has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on Public Information Officer PC Beena from the Wayanad District Forest Office for breaching the Right to Information Act. The penalty was enforced due to the omission of the officer’s name in a response to an inquiry. State Information Commissioner A Abdul Hakeem issued the penalty following a complaint filed by a native of Kozhikode.
The violation encompassed the failure to disclose essential details such as the officer’s name, official address, phone number, and email in the RTI response. The Commission noted that PC Beena not only withheld her name but also delayed the provision of information, thereby impeding the applicant from accessing accurate data.
The Commission noted the officer’s non-compliance with the directive to furnish a copy of the official note passed from the preceding officer to the succeeding officer within the prescribed timeline. So, the commissioner has been instructed to provide this document to the petitioner within 15 days and to submit a report outlining the actions taken within 25 days.
