The complainant present. Shri U. Hazarika, Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department present representing Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) who is unable to attend because of his engagement with the meeting of the State Cabinet. It transpires that the Revenue Department has not yet appointed any Public Information officer and the Deputy Secretary, Revenue who is present is not the PIO of the Department.

The Commission has heard both the complainant as well as the Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department.

Decision of the Commission

The Commission, on careful consideration of the facts presented by the complainant and the Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department directs as follows parawise as listed in the petition dated 29.6.2006:

Para 1: The complainant wants information about Than, Satra, Namgarh, Kirtangarh set up by Srimanta Sankardev, Shri Shri Madhabdev, Shri Shri Damodardev and Sri Sri Haridev district wise. The Department of Revenue, Government of Assam shall collect the information of the Satras from the Deputy Commissioners of the Districts and furnish the same to the complainant within November, 2006. No further delay should occur.

Para 2: The complainant wants information about set up of Satra Development & Preservation Samiti by the Chief Minister of Assam with details. Information as available with Government should be furnished by the Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department today.

Para 3: The complainant wants information about the holding of meeting of the said committee along with minutes. Information should be furnished by the Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department today.

Para 4: The complainant wants know the status of Sjt. Basistha Deb Sarma a member of the said committee. The Revenue Department shall collect the information from Deputy Commissioner, Barpeta within a week and furnish the same to the complainant.

Para 5: The complainant wants information about the literary contribution of the members of the said committee. The Revenue Department shall furnish information within a week.

Para 6: The complainant wants the list of 850 satras for financial assistance under the Assam Accord. The Revenue Department shall collect information from the Commissioner & Secretary, Cultural Department, Government of Assam as well as from the Director of Archeology, Government of Assam and furnish the same within a month.

Para 7: The complainant wants information about the proceeding of the said committee dated 20.3.2006 in which 850 satras were approved. The Revenue Department shall furnish information to the complainant within a week.

Regarding paras 8, 9 and 10 the complainant states that he does not want to press these points.

Para 11: The complainant wants if there was any discrimination against Scheduled Caste Communities in Upper Assam, Middle Assam and Lower Assam. It is pointed out by the complainant that he submitted two complaints to the Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and some enquires were made. The Commission directs that the Revenue Department shall furnish information available with it on the matter within 15 days from today.

In case the complainant does not receive the information or he is not satisfied with the information furnished by the Government, he may feel free to come up before the Commission.

The Commission also directs the Additional Chief Secretary / Principal Secretary/ Commissioner & Secretary, Revenue Department to designate the State Public Information Officer / 1st Appellate Authority of the department within one week and report compliance.