Bhubaneswar, Dec 5: The State Information Commissioner has imposed a penalty of ₹25,000 each on two government officials for failing to furnish information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The action was taken after RTI applicant Manoranjan Jena complained about prolonged delays and non-compliance by the officials concerned.

The officials penalized are Pradeep Kumar Sethy, Additional Tahasildar of Binjharpur Tahasil in Jajpur district, and Sujit Kumar Swain, Additional Tahasildar of Jhumpura Tahasil in Keonjhar district. Both were serving as Public Information Officers (PIOs) at the time the RTI applications were filed. Despite receiving multiple notices from the Commission, they did not provide the requested information, thereby violating their statutory responsibilities under the RTI Act.

Taking serious note of the lapse, the Commission directed Sethy to deposit the fine within one month. If he fails to comply, the penalty will be recovered from his salary in five installments starting February 2026. Similarly, Swain has been granted 30 days to pay the fine, after which recovery will be initiated from his salary.

The Commission reiterated that transparency and timely disclosure of information are fundamental pillars of the RTI framework, and the negligence of the officials hindered citizens’ right to information.

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