Panaji: The Goa State Information Commission imposed penalties to the tune of Rs 50,000 on the public information officer (PIO), who is the secretary of the Majorda-Utorda-Calata panchayat, for denying information under the RTI Act to a local panch.State information commissioner Atmaram Barve said that the directorate of panchayats conduct an inquiry against Yogesh Fatarpekar and that he did not comply with its directions to furnish information and did not pay heed to show cause notices issued by the commission. The commission told the director of panchayats to recover the penalty amount from his salaries and allowances latest by Feb 15.It also directed the chief secretary to take immediate steps for the formation of a record retention policy under the ambit of the RTI Act in Goa.Panch Sharlet Fernandes sought CCTV footage of meetings of the panchayat and then filed two complaints before the commission for non-compliance with orders to furnish the footage to her under the RTI Act.In his reply, the PIO stated that he did not have easy access to the CCTV system and, therefore, not in a position to access or furnish any such footage.“The conduct of the said PIO, Fatarpekar, appears to be against the letter and spirit of the RTI Act, in so far as his inaction in responding to the RTI application within the stipulated time period is concerned. The conduct of disregard towards the RTI Act as well as authorities constituted thereunder is reiterated by the fact that the said PIO does not bother to pay heed to the show cause notice issued by this commission,” Barve stated in the order.
