If you thought retirement from an organisation could save you from the perils of punishment in case of violations on the job, as outlined in the RTI Act, think twice.
In a first, the central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, in his order dated August 9, fined a retired public information officer (PIO). The fine amount of Rs25,000 is the maximum that the Act allows and the commissioner has ordered that it be deducted from the PIO’s pension.
Patna resident Paritosh Kumar, in his application dated September 2010, had sought details from the Employees Provident Fund Organisation of travel plans of officers, expenses borne by the organisation, pensions, and details on scams and action taken.
In his reply, the PIO first denied the information stating that it is exempt under the Act. He however, did not state the reason for the same. When the first appellate authority directed the PIO to give the information, he did not comply. Meanwhile, he retired from the post.
Later, when the applicant filed a complaint with the commission that the information provided was not satisfactory, the retired PIO was summoned again.
The commission rubbished his claim that he had forgotten to apply the relevant section for denying the information.
