Commission calls DC, SDOs to clarify
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 18 2020:
Manipur Information Commission has ordered the DC/SPIO of Kamjong and three SDOs to appear before the Commission on March 5 and clarify their reasons for charging extra money from an RTI applicant who was seeking information related to National Disaster Management Fund.
According to a reliable source, the Commissioner sent a notice to the DC and the SDOs through WhatsApp on February 14, further instructing the officials that order/notice through the messaging app must be treated as official and valid.
The source informed that the matter arose after one Khangkhosei Haokip filed an RTI application seeking information regarding the National Disaster Relief Fund for the financial year 2017-18 and accordingly, the DC was instructed to appear before the Commission for the hearing.
After the DC failed to comply, claiming that no order/notice was received, the Commission conducted necessary investigation and found that the DC/SPIO had intimated some parts of the RTI to the SDOs of Kasom Khullen, Phungyar and Kamjong.
Interestingly, it was also found that in response, the SDOs argued that the RTI applicant has to bear the charge for taking written consent and for disclosure of the beneficiaries' details like their bank account details.
The SPIO/DC was also found demanding Rs 12,108 from the applicant for dispatching letters to the beneficiaries, the source added.
As such, the Commission directed the DC and the three SDOs to appear before necessary proceeding on March 5 and clarify their arguments as to why they need to charge extra from the applicant, the source concluded.