Dated 21-08-2007

Name of the Complainant:
Smt Puneswari Dutta
W/0. Tholok Dutta (Freedom Fighter)
Vill. Bahadur chowk, Lakhimpur North Lakhimpur, Assam

Name of the Public Authority:
DC, Lakhimpur

The following were present:
Shri Manish Thakur, IAS
Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur

Sri Manish Thakur, Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur present.

Brief of the case
On 24.7.07, the Commission heard the case of Smti Puneswari Dutta relating to her complaint on not getting information from the Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur. The DC's office kept the matter pending for a long time even after reply was received from the CEO, Zilla Parishad, on the plea that no enclosures were received. But DC's office did not write back to the CEO, Zilla Parishad. This showed total negligence of the office of the Deputy Commissioner and hence the Commission decided to direct the Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur to submit an affidavit as to the circumstances leading to the delay and clarify his stand.

Hence this hearing.

Submission of the D.C Lakhimpur
The D.C. Lakhimpur submitted that on receipt of the petition along with the letter No. SIC 24/2007/03 dated Dispur the 21st February, 2007, the Chief Executive Officer, Lakhimpur Zilla Parishad was asked for furnishing of the information as required by Smti Puneswari Dutta.

The Executive Office, Zilla Parishad, Lakhimpur had furnished the point wise report vide his letter No. ZPL.101/2A5-06/PT-1/13 dated 09.03.07 but the Chief Executive officer, Lakhimpur Zilla Parishad did not furnish the detailed report as required.

The report received from the CEO, Lakhimpur Zilla Parishad vide the letter No ZPL.101.205-06/PT-1/13 dated 08.03.07 was entered in the Central Docket Register of Receipt Branch of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur.

After entering in the Central Docket Register of Receipt branch in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur, the same was sent to the Development Branch of DC, Office, Lakhimpur and the Development branch referred it to the PG Cell, but due to nonreceipt of the detailed report from the CEO, Zilla Parishad North Lakhimpur, as required by the petitioner, that was not processed for necessary action for which required information could not be furnished to Smti Puneswari Dutta in due time and delay was caused.

He summed up by admitting openly that there was absolute dislocation in the docketing of the receipts specially the receipts relating to the R.T.I. applications in his office and as such the RTI application of the petitioner was not seen by him. The Public Grievance Cell was dealing with all the receipts but now on receipt of the directions of the Commission, he had taken steps to separate the receipt of the RTI Applications in a separate register. He apologized for the delay in dealing with the application of the petitioner and regretted that he could not take any action as the matter did not come to his notice. He also assured the Commission that the directions of the Commission would be carried out in letter and spirit and there would not be cause grievances in future.

Observation of the Commission
The Commission observed that the Deputy Commissioner has to streamline the system of receipt and disposal of RTI applications in his office as ordered earlier.

Decision of the Commission
The Commission, on careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case decided to accept the reply of the Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur with the direction that the Deputy Commissioner should look into the grievances of the petitioner in matter of the grant of IAY, NOAP and Freedom Fighters' Pension and inform her of the decision in due course.

Sd/- (R.S. Mooshahary)
Chief Information Commissioner, Assam
Janata Bhawan, Dispur.

Sd/- (Dr. B. K. Gohain)
State Information Commissioner, Assam
Janata Bhawan, Dispur.


Authenticated true copy

(Jiauddin Ahmed)
Secretary, State Information Commission, Assam
Janata Bhawan, Dispur.

CC:
1. The Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur
2. Smt Puneswari Dutta, W/O. Tholok Dutta, Vill. Bahadur Chowk, Lakhimpur, North Lakhimpur, Assam
3. MD, AMTRON, Bamunimaidan.
4. The Director, Information & Public Relation, Dispur.
5. Office file.


Secretary
State Information Commission, Assam