PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSAM INFORMATION COMMISSION

Case No : 97/2006
Dated 16th November, 2006

Present:
1. Shri R.S. Mooshahary
State Chief Information Commissioner.

2. Dr. B.K. Gohain
State Information Commission.

Name of the Complainant:
Shri Ali Akbar Mia
Ex. MLA & General Secretary, NCP
MMC Bhawan, 41, Hedayatpur
Guwahati - 781003


Name of the Public Authority:
S.P. Dhubri/ SDPO, Bilasipara

The following were present:
1 Shri Parthasarathi Mahanta
SP, Dhubri

2. Shri Budhindra Nath Morong
SDPO, Bilasipara.


Petitioner/ Complainant.
Shri Ali Akbar Mia

The complainant present. Shri Parthasarathi Mahanta, SP, Dhubri along with Shri Budhindra Nath Morang, SDPO, Bilasipara are also present. Heard the complainant as well as the SP, Dhubri and the SDPO, Bilasipara. They have handed over the information as sought for to the complainant in presence of the Commission.

Brief Facts of the Case:

On 25.9.06 Ali Akbar Mia submitted a complaint before the Chief Information Commissioner stating that although he submitted an application on 25.08.2006 to the SDPO Bilasipara for information but he did not receive the information till the submission of his complaint before the Commission. He wanted the following information:

1. Status report on the police cases under Bilasipara Police Station: Case Nos. 77/04, 81/04, 85/04, 155/04, 196/04, 215/04, 99/05, 117/05, 118/05, 162/05, 163/06, 165/05, 189/05, 190/05, 221/05, 270/05, 94/06, 99/06, 120/06, 158/06 and under Bogribari Police Station Case Nos. 85/05, 1/06, 85/06 and 64/06.
2. Number of witnesses examined and number of accused arrested.
3. The details of the FR in some cases.
4. The reason for not arresting the accused persons.
5. The reason why the cases are pending from 6 months to 1/2 years
6. If there are any instructions from the higher authority in written or verbally to stop the investigation of Bilasipara Police Station Case Nos. 99/06, 120/06, 158/06 and the Bogribari Police Station Case Nos. 85/05, 64/06.
7. Whether it is a fact that the FIR are not registered by these two police station but some persons are arrested on false charge.

The SDPO, Bilasipara acknowledges that he has been in receipt of the petition of Ali Akbar Mia but no application fee was paid by him. Also he was neither the PIO nor the APIO under the RTI Act, 2005 and also he was not fully aware of the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005. The S.P. Dhubri also makes the same submission.

Decision of the Commission

The Commission on careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case and the submission made by the SDPO, Bilasipara and the SP, Dhubri accepts the cause for delay in furnishing the information. The Commission finds that the SP Dhubri has not notified the SDPO, Bilasipara as the APIO. The SP, Dhubri has also not notified any officer of his office as PIO. However, he stated that he is the Appellate Authority under the RTI Act, 2005. The Commission directs that the SP, Dhubri should notify the SDPO, Bilasipara as APIO and one Additional S.P of his office as PIO and the SP Dhubri as the 1st Appellate Authority (if not done already) immediately and the send the report of confirmation to the Commission. The Commission further directs that the complainant should go through the information furnished by the SDPO, Bilasipara and if the information is found satisfactory by him the matter shall be treated as closed.

The Commission also directs that the information be furnished free of cost because of the delay caused by the public authority in furnishing the information

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

(L.C. Borah)
Under Secretary
State Information Commission, Assam
Janata Bhawan, Dispur.

Memo No SIC.101/2006 Dated November 16, 2006

CC:
1. Sri Parthasarathi Mahanta, SP, Dhubri
2. Shri Budhindra Nath Morong, SDPO, Bilasipara
3. Shri Ali Akbar Mia, Ex-MLA & General Secretary, NCP, Assam, MMC Bhawan, 14, Hedayatpur, Guwahati -3
4. MD, AMTRON, Bamunimaidan
5. Office file.