MSIC initiates probe against PIO for delaying RTI information

The Maharashtra State Information Commission (MSIC) has directed Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to initiate a disciplinary enquiry against the Public Information Officer (PIO) of Prisons department for delay in providing information to a 2006 train blast accused.
"The PIO did not appear before the Commission, even after serving a show-cause notice, and this is a very serious issue. The ACS (Home) will conduct enquiry into the matter and will submit a report in a month," said Chief Information Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad in his order passed on September 20.
According to CIC, the PIO was served with a show cause notice and was called personally on September 19 to explain that why action should not be taken against him for delay in information under the provisions of RTI. However he did not come.

A call from the MSIC office was also made to him to remind him even then he did not appear, Gaikwad said.
The case pertains the application made by accused Ehtesham Siddiqui, who filed an application under RTI seeking copy of prison manual, police manual and details about cases registered against jail staff and police personnel across the state.
Siddiqui's lawyer Shahid Nadeem told PTI that his client filed an application with the Home department and the application was transferred to the office of Inspector General of Prisons.

"The Office of IG did not give any reply. Later Siddiqui made his first appeal to the first Appellate Authority, who is the IG himself but yet no order was passed after which the second appeal was filed with the office of MSIC," he said.

Nadeem said that the second appeal was decided on August 21 and the SIC directed the PIO to provide the information sought by the accused and also a show cause notice was issued to the PIO.
Siddiqui has not yet received the information, Nadeem added.