Show cause proceeding against ACR dropped

Jammu: Issuing a warning to the Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Poonch that disregard of RTI can attract necessary penal action, the Central Information Commission, dropped ongoing show proceedings against the officer.
Disposing of the second appeal filed by appellant against the ACR Poonch for not providing information sought under the RTI Act 2005 the bench of Chief Information Commissioner Y. K. Sinha had directed Zaheer Ahmad Kaifi, Assistant Commissioner of Revenue, Poonch on October 21, 2022 to explain why maximum penalty should not be imposed on him for violation of the provisions of the RTI Act.
“Non compliance of the RTI Act has caused deliberate obstruction in the dissemination of information by not furnishing any reply to the Appellant and vitiating the proceedings by his absence for the hearing and for not submitting any records”, the CIC observed in its order dated 21 October 2022.
However, the ACR Poonch, vide its letter dated 25.11.2022, has replied to the show-cause notice, and the matter is being considered by the Commission.
“He was on field duty in connection with Back to Village Four Phase Programme on 20.10.2022 Therefore, he could not attend the hearing,” the ACR Poonch informed the CIC in reply to the show cause notice served upon him
The ACR Poonch also submitted a copy of a reply dated 17.11.2022 stating that information sought by the appellant contains personal details like name, parentage and address of the beneficiaries which falls under the ambit of personal information of a third party and its disclosure is exempted under Section 8 (1)(j) of the RTI Act 2005.
“The ACR, Poonch has submitted that he holds the highest regard for the CIC and he is a law abiding officer and cannot even think of non-compliance of the directions of the CIC. He submitted that he has no intention to conceal any fact from the Commission. He has apologised for the inconvenience caused to the Commission. He has assured that he shall be more careful in future”, CIC order dated 27/11/2022 read.
“In view of the above explanation, the submissions of the PIO, ACR Poonch are accepted and the violation of the RTI Act is condoned on this occasion. Hence, the show cause proceeding against him is hereby dropped. However, the Respondent is warned that such lapses in future will attract necessary penal action as per the RTI Act, 2005”, the CIC ordered.
Updated On 12/2/2022 11:43:45 AM

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