MP High Court Exempts Ex-CIC To Pay Penalty Of ₹40,000

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The division bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court headed by acting Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court Sanjeev Sachdeva in its order stated that the former chief information commissioner (CIC) was not at fault.

He said the orders passed by him were in good faith and were bona fide discharge of his official duties. The Chief Justice also waived penalty of ₹40,000 imposed against former CIC.

A person from Bhopal had moved High Court after the CIC dismissed his petition seeking direction to animal husbandry department to provide him information free of cost as the public information officer of the department didn't provide him desired information within the time limit of 30 days. This, he had said, entitled him to get information free of cost under the provisions of RTI Act.

The single bench of High Court had pulled up CIC for "abdicating his statutory responsibility and working as an agent of the govt". The court had also imposed a cost of ₹40,000 on him, which was to be paid to the petitioner as litigation cost.

After the final hearing, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf disposed of the appeal on June 19.