Chandigarh: The Punjab State Information Commission has taken strong action against the District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) of Fazilka for repeated non-appearance in proceedings. The commission issued bailable warrants against the officer after several opportunities were granted but ignored.
Order by Information Commissioner
The order was passed by Harpreet Sandhu, the State Information Commissioner of Punjab. The bench noted that the DDPO's continuous absence and failure to provide requested information caused undue delay in adjudicating the appeal case pending before the commission.
Failure to Comply with Notices
Despite being duly notified, the officer did not appear to assist the commission in the case. The bench remarked that such conduct hampered timely delivery of justice under the Right to Information Act and reflected a lack of regard for the commission's authority.
The repeated non-compliance obstructed the effective conclusion of the case and caused inconvenience to the parties involved, the bench observed. To secure the officer's presence, bailable warrants were deemed necessary, directing the DDPO to appear on the next hearing date.
Duty of Public Authorities
The commission reiterated that all public authorities and officers are duty-bound to cooperate with RTI proceedings and ensure timely compliance with directions, in the interest of transparency, accountability, and good governance.
