Odisha: Rs 30K fine for 2 block officials for failing to provide data under RTI

Dharmasala:  The Odisha Information Commission has penalised two officials from Dharmasala block of Odisha’s Jajpur district for not furnishing data under the Right to Information Act.

The accused officials, identified as former Supplies Inspector and current Athagarh Assistant Civil Supplies Officer Jagmohan Das and junior engineer of Rural Water Supply division (Dharmasala block) Dipak Kumar Jena, were directed to pay a fine of Rs 15,000 each.

As per reports, activist Sarbeswar Behera had sought information from the two officials in Dharmasala block administration regarding alleged irregularities under Food Protection Act during the Covid pandemic. He had alleged that many beneficiaries were left out while ration cards of dead people were misutilised. He had also raised complaints of mismanagement in rural water supply in Dharmasala block.

When he did not get due cooperation from the block administration, Behera had knocked the doors of the State Information Commission and filed a petition. Acting on it, The State Information Commissioner BK Mahapatra had directed Dharmasala block development officer (BDO) to carry out a probe and submit a report.

On June 23, the BDO submitted the report which found the accused officials guilty of negligence in duty and not providing the details sought under the RTI Act.

Acting on the report, the Information Commission directed the two officials to pay a fine of Rs 15,000 each within a month of receipt of the notice failing which the amount will be deducted from their salary or pension in three installments from January 2024.