RTI replying officer turns applicant to fight harassment
The then Public Information Officer had to use the Act to clear himself of the serious charge levelled against him.
New Delhi: A forged RTI reply furnished seven years ago from his office triggered harassment of a public information officer of Delhi government who finally found refuge in the CIC which has ordered the Chief Minister's Office to inquire into the matter.
The then Public Information Officer Harjeet Singh, who processed RTI responses at ADM, North District, had to use the Act to clear himself of the serious charge levelled against him.
In 2008, a response was issued from his office to L D Chopra even when no RTI application was filed. The response was unsigned saying that certified copies of a will have been provided without due process of law.
On the basis of this unsigned response, Anti-Corruption Branch of Delhi government started proceedings against Singh who had now moved as an administrative officer in Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
Singh started filing RTI applications seeking details of the RTI response which triggered action against him but no reply was furnished to him. Even earlier orders of the CIC did not help. Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu took stern view on it.
"The reply served its purpose to help land grabber and its serious side effect was that one responsible officer of public authority suffered humiliation and insults as he faced investigations for no fault of him causing mental depression to entire family members," he said.
Acharyulu said it is not clear till now which public servant has issued the letter dated SPIO/DC/(N)/RTI/5/ID No.360/928 dated February 14, 2008 which is fabricated. "It appears that officer who signed the letter is known to others, but all of them are shielding him by putting forward the 'non traceable' plea. The Government has responsibility to probe this through an appropriate investigating authority," he said.