In a decisive move to enforce accountability under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Chief Secretary of Haryana has issued strict directives for the swift recovery of penalties imposed on public information officers. The action targets a significant backlog of fines amounting to approximately Rs 1.5 crore.
Directive for Immediate Action on Pending Penalties
The Chief Secretary, Sanjeev Kaushal, chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the status of penalty recoveries from State Public Information Officers (SPIOs). The review revealed that penalties imposed by the State Information Commission against 57 SPIOs across various departments remain largely uncollected. Kaushal instructed all concerned departmental heads to expedite the recovery process without further delay.
He emphasized that the recovery of these penalties is not merely a financial formality but a crucial step in upholding the spirit of the transparency law. The Chief Secretary made it clear that disciplinary action would be initiated against officers who fail to comply with the recovery orders, signaling a zero-tolerance approach towards negligence in RTI compliance.
Root Causes and Systemic Reforms
During the meeting, officials analyzed the reasons behind the poor rate of penalty recovery. A primary issue identified was the frequent transfer of the SPIOs against whom penalties were levied. When an officer is transferred, the recovery process often gets stalled, leading to a growing pile of unresolved cases.
To tackle this systemic flaw, the Chief Secretary proposed a pivotal reform. He suggested that in cases where the penalized officer has been transferred, the responsibility for paying the penalty should fall on the department itself. The department would then have the right to recover the amount from the salary of the concerned officer. This measure is designed to ensure that institutional accountability is maintained regardless of individual postings.
Broader Implications for Governance and Transparency
This crackdown sends a strong message about the state administration's commitment to the RTI Act. The recovery of long-pending penalties is expected to act as a major deterrent, encouraging all SPIOs to provide information to applicants within the mandated 30-day timeframe. Delays and denials in providing information have been a persistent grievance among citizens and activists.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the broader implementation of the RTI Act in Haryana. He directed all departments to ensure that first appeals under the Act are disposed of promptly at the departmental level itself. This step is intended to reduce the burden on the State Information Commission and provide quicker redressal to information seekers.
Furthermore, the meeting concluded with instructions to organize regular training and awareness programs for SPIOs and First Appellate Authorities. The goal is to enhance their understanding of the RTI Act's provisions, leading to better compliance and fewer instances of penalties in the future.
The directive from the top echelon of the Haryana bureaucracy marks a significant push towards restoring the teeth of the transparency law. By prioritizing the recovery of Rs 1.5 crore in penalties, the state government aims to reinforce the principle that accountability is non-negotiable in a democratic framework.
