Dimapur, July 28 (MExN): The Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT) has written to the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Nagaland, under Section 19 (3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It sought the CIC’s intervention in the matter of RTIs filed before the Public Information Officer, Nagaland Police Headquarter.
The letter, dated July 25 stated that the Union had filed an RTI on March 3, 2020, before the PIO, PHQ, seeking appointment orders of the 1140 “backdoor appointed” constables and details of 206 or 208 candidates who were selected and appointed through open recruitment on November 15,16 and 18, 2019. However, even after expiry of 30 days mandatory period, the information were not provided, it said.
Following this, it said, the appellants appealed the appellate authority (DGP of the department) as per section 19 (1) of the Act, and a hearing was conducted on June 17, 2020, wherein the PIO was directed to reply to the RTI.
However, in spite of the appellate authority’s direction, it said that the PIO “defiantly denied the appellants the documents,” in its reply dated July 18, 2020. It said that the PIO “absurdly” quoted Section 8 (1) (j) stating that “the information sought do not meet any public interest or activity.”
In the letter, the appellants argued that the Police Department had made “blatant backdoor appointments of 1140 candidates and were about to send the illegal candidates to NAPTC Chümoukedima, Dimapur, to undergo training.” It said that the appellants had opposed the training in the interest of public service and also questioned the validity of Section 8 (1) (j) on the matter.
The appellants accused the PIO of “obstructing justice,” and appealed the CIC who is the Appellate Authority to hear the appeal and direct the Police Department to furnish the details sought. It also requested that a penalty be imposed on the “erring PIO of the department under Sec 20 (1) and/or Sec 20 (2), exemplary with cost.”
.JPG)
