The Punjab Chief Information Commissioner has come down heavily on the Amritsar Municipal Corporation for its failure to trace crucial records related to a prominent commercial complex in the city. The commission expressed serious concerns over the state of record management, enforcement of building bylaws, and accountability under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
Commission Questions "Lost" Files of Major Complex
The bench, led by Chief Information Commissioner Inderpal Singh, was hearing an appeal filed by a local resident. The appellant had sought detailed information about a multi-storeyed commercial building, Ganpati Tower, located on Lawrence Road in Amritsar. The requested details included the property's ownership, sanctioned building plans, parking provisions, any violations from the approved plan, and the action taken by authorities.
During the proceedings, the Public Information Officer representing the civic body stated that the town planning wing could not locate the records because a General Registration (GR) number was missing. However, officials admitted they managed to retrieve and supply information related to property tax from a different department.
Municipal Corporation's Defence Deemed Unsatisfactory
The respondent further claimed that no construction activity had occurred at the site in recent years, including the period before the appeal was filed. They also stated that no on-site survey was conducted as the department had not received any formal complaint warranting such action. The corporation argued that an RTI application could not be treated as a complaint to initiate action for compounding violations.
The commission, however, noted a significant omission in the department's response. It highlighted that the property in question is a large commercial complex with over 75 shops spread across five floors, situated in a posh area of Amritsar. The appellant had specifically raised concerns about the complex lacking adequate parking facilities for visitors and shoppers, which was the core of the information sought.
High-Level Enquiry Ordered by the Commission
The commission recorded its dissatisfaction with the Amritsar Municipal Corporation's plea that the sanctioned map details could not be retrieved. It also took note that the Department of Local Government has its own Chief Vigilance Officer and handles numerous complaint cases across Punjab.
Exercising its powers under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005, the commission has directed a copy of its order to be sent to the Principal Secretary of the Punjab Government's Department of Local Government for a comprehensive enquiry. The commission has demanded a specific report by the next hearing date on January 14, 2026.
The enquiry must address several critical issues:
- Whether the corporation's insistence on a GR number is justified when the building's complete details and address are known.
- What actions, if any, the department has taken to independently retrieve the building plan details.
- The capability of municipal corporations across Punjab to retrieve building plan information on their own.
- The legality of a commercial building being constructed without adequate parking facilities.
This case puts a spotlight on the transparency and administrative efficiency of urban local bodies in Punjab, especially concerning public access to information about commercial constructions and adherence to building bylaws.
