Khansahib (Budgam) Mar 25: An RTI activist has accused the Block Development Officer (BDO) Khansahib, who is the designated Public Information Officer (PIO) under J&K RTI Act 2009, of not providing information under the Act.
 According to the applicant, Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh of Dreygam Khansahib Budgam, the BDO had to provide the requisite information in 30-days after the filing of the application. “It has been six months that I have filed the application seeking information, but the concerned PIO hasn’t given any response to it,” Sheikh alleged, adding that he submitted the application on August 23, 2011.
 “The officer has not even adhered to the orders of the Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) who is also 1st Appellate Authority under J&K RTI Act 2009, if the application is filed before the BDO.”
 Giving details about the application, Sheikh said, “I wanted the information about MGNREGA and Indhira Awaas Yojna (IAY) beneficiaries and filed the application in BDO office Khansahib. After a month, when I got no reply, the BDO office staff told me that they have lost the RTI application. On December 30, 2011, I filed a fresh application under RTI Act, but again the BDO office did not provide me the information within 30 days”.
 According to Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh, he filed 1st appeal under RTI Act before ACD Budgam on February 16 and the officer forwarded a letter to BDO on February 18 under letter No. (ACD/BUD/RTI /19932 -34 (copy of which is with the Greater Kashmir) to BDO Khansahib wherein he was directed to explain why the information was not provided to the RTI applicant and was ordered to provide the information without any delay.
 “The BDO Khansahib has still not responded to the RTI application till date,” Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh told Greater Kashmir adding that he has now moved to the State Information Commission.
 The BDO Office Khansahib, according to the applicant has also failed to provide information to one Abdul Ahad Khan of Kachwari Khansahib.
 Khan has also filed a 1st appeal before ACD Budgam and the ADC vide his letter No (ACD /BUD/RTI/ 1904-44 dated 27.01.2012 directed the BDO to provide the information to Abdul Ahad Khan. But till date the information is yet to be provided. Khan has also filed a complaint in State Information Commission (SIC) against the BDO.
 When contacted, BDO Khansahib, Sheikh Imtiyaz said, he will provide the information to the RTI applicants and they must come to his office to collect the same.
 When contacted Directed Rural Development Kashmir Jehangir Mir said “Let the RTI applicants approach me and I will take action against the BDO.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST