50 AMC officials fined under RTI Act, only 60 thousand paid out of 3.82 lakh | 50 AMC officials fined under RTI Act, only 60 thousand paid out of 3.82 lakh

The Right to Information (RTI) Act has been implemented to enable citizens of the country to seek information from government, semi-government or local self-government organizations. More than one and a half lakh RTI applications seeking information were made before the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in the last 13 years. In which an appeal was made before the Commission for not responding to certain applications by the officials. As many as 50 officers of various departments of the Corporation who did not provide information even after the order of the Commission, were fined Rs. 3.82 lakh was fined. However, out of these fines only Rs. 60 thousand fine has been deposited by the officials in currency, while the remaining Rs. 3.22 lakhs has come to light as not yet deposited. Out of total RTI applications in the last 13 years, 1463 applications are still not disposed of

According to RTI in the last three years, the most officers of the corporation who have not given information even after the order of the Commission after the appeal are from the Estate Department, Engineer Department and then the Tax Department. The most corrupt account of the corporation is not answered much by the officers of the estate account.

Atiq Syed, working chairman of the Congress Minority Division, sought the information under the Right to Information Act. In which a total of 158973 RTIs were applied to the corporation from 2010 to 2023 i.e. in 13 years by the citizens of the city and sought information. In which 157510 RTI application has been disposed of by the Corporation’s Public Information Officer. While 1463 RTI applications have not been disposed of. Also, 33229 petitioners who did not get the requested information in 13 years filed an appeal before the First Appellate Officer of the Corporation and sought information. Out of which 31766 applications were disposed.

While 6138 applicants who were not given information by the appeal officer of the corporation filed another appeal in Gujarat Information Commission seeking information. In which 50 officers of the corporation who did not provide information even after the order was given by the commission to provide information to the applicants, Rs. 3.82 lakh has been fined. Out of which only Rs. The penalty amount of 60 thousand has been deposited in the corporation’s account by currency. While the remaining Rs. 3.22 lakhs has not yet been deposited with the corporation by the officials as penalty.