KIC orders enquiry against Consumer Forum's Assistant Registrar

The order has come in the backdrop of a petition filed by B Prakash Bhat, a resident of Kodialbail in Mangalore, with the KIC.

The petitioner had sought permission to access the entire construction records maintained in the case of DK Nirmithi Kendra in Surathkal. The construction refers to the construction of a new building for the DK Forum.

He had also sought certified copy of the register maintained in connection with the construction of new building for the District Forum, and entire details of payment made to Dakshina KannadaNirmithi Kendra in connection with the construction.

As there was no response from the respondent, i.e., the Forum Assistant Registrar-cum-Assistant Administrative Officer who is also the Public Information Officer (PIO) within the stipulated period of 30 days, the petitioner filed a complaint with the KIC under section 18(1) of the Right to Information Act.

In its interim order, the Commissioner has stated that the Dakshina Kannada District Consumer Redressal Forum’s President should “conduct an enquiry into the misplacing or loss of request for information of the petitioner and take suitable action against the concerned for their lapses under relevant service rules”.

State Information Commissioner K A Thippeswamy also directed Bijapur to show cause within the next 30 days why action should not be taken against him under section 20(1) of the RTI Act to levy a penalty of Rs 250 to Rs 25,000 for loss or misplacing of the request for information.