Shimla : The Himachal Pradesh State Information Commission on Monday rejected the contention that information regarding purchase of land by Priyanka Vadra near here cannot be given for security reasons and directed the concerned authorities to provide all information in this regard to an RTI activist within 10 days.
The RTI activist, Debasheesh Bhattacharya, had sought information about the land purchased by Priyanka at Chharabra, 12 km from here, but the information was refused by the Public Information Office, which maintained that it cannot be divulged for security reasons as she was an SPG protectee. The Appellate Authority (the Deputy Commissioner) also rejected the appeal.
The RTI activist had filed the appeal with the State Information Commission division bench, comprising Chief Information Commissioner Bhim Sen and Information Commissioner K.D. Batish, which directed the Additional District Magistrate, Shimla, to give the information within ten days.
The Commission also issued notice to the Deputy Commissioner and the ADM on why a penalty should not be imposed on them for delaying the information and fixed the next hearing for July 23.
Priyanka Vadra is constructing a house near Chharabra and had purchased over 4.25 bighas of land between 2007 and 2013 in relaxation of section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act that bars any non-agriculturist from purchasing land without the permission of the government.
