Ex-MBMC official fined 1L for delay in giving RTI info

Mumbai: Konkan information commissioner Shekhar Channe has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Kanchan Gaikwad, former assistant municipal commissioner of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) and currently chief officer, Hiwarkhed municipal council, for refusal and delay in providing information to an RTI applicant from Bhayander.
Bhayander resident Santosh Tiwari had submitted four applications under the RTI Act on Nov 26, 2021 and May 4, 2022 on illegal and unauthorized constructions in the city. From the records which were submitted before the commissioner, it was found that either no information was provided to Tiwari or there was inordinate delay in providing information.
In the process, Channe found that Gaikwad failed to provide information within the prescribed time limit. Channe then issued a show-cause notice to her, asking why a fine of Rs 250 per day should not be imposed on her for the long delay in providing information.
Following the show-cause notice, Gaikwad appeared before the commissioner. She was unable to explain why there was a delay of three years for providing the information to Tiwari. "We are rejecting the submissions made by Gaikwad on the three-year delay in providing information to Tiwari. A fine of Rs 25,000 is being imposed on her. The amount should be deducted from her salary," Channe said in his order.
Channe has passed four different orders against Gaikwad for the delay, so the amount comes to Rs 1 lakh. The Konkan information commissioner found that the Bhayander resident, Tiwari, was finally given the information, but with back dates and only after the order was passed by Channe.
Further, Channe has asked the MBMC municipal commissioner to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the official for providing misleading information to the commission.