Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission (APIC) has imposed penalties on two officials for willful absence and gross violation of the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005.
The APIC in a press release said, despite a warning order issued through Memo No. APIC-356/2022 dated September 7, 2023 and a reasonable opportunity provided during the 8th hearing on the same day, Oyi Borang Tatak, the PIO-cum-DDSE of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in Boleng, Siang district, and Tabia Chobin, the PIO-cum-DDSE in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district, remained absent during the 9th hearing held on January 23, 2024.
Expressing serious concern over their willful absence and non-compliance with the Commission’s directives, the APIC has imposed a penalty of Rs. 25,000/- on each official.
The penalties are to be deposited before February 20, 2024, in favor of the Registrar, Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission, Itanagar, through Treasury Challan in the Head of Account “0070-Other Administrative Charge.”
Furthermore, both Tatak and Chobin have been directed to provide proof of depositing the penalty amount along with all the information sought for by the appellant on the next hearing scheduled for April 24, 2024.
Failure to comply with this directive may lead to additional actions, including recommendations for disciplinary action under Section 20(2) of the Act and issuance of arrest warrants under Section 18(3)(a) of the RTI Act to compel their attendance in the court hearing, the release added.
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