Info panel orders Rs10,000 compensation for harassment

The information commission has ordered the state to pay Rs10,000 as compensation to an applicant for delay in providing information.

The applicant, Glozes D'Souza, had sought to know details about the pension and pay scales for employees and teachers under the Sixth Pay Commission, which has been approved by the state government.

However, when he did not get the information he filed a complaint that was followed by an RTI application.

In his application, D'Souza also sought relief under the Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act (Act 21 of 2006). The legislation sets a time period within which a file is to be cleared.

Even after the first appellate authority ordered that the information be provided, D'Souza did not get it and he approached the information commission.

Ratnakar Gaikwad, state chief information commissioner, stated that the information be provided to the applicant free. He said that the information sought should have been declared suo motu by the BMC as it is of public interest.