Right to impunity
By Yogesh Avasthi, Ahmedabad Mirror | Jan 2, 2016, http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/ahmedabad/cover-story/Right-to-impunity/articleshow/50410571.cms Right to Information Act was instituted in 2005 as a powerful tool in the hands of average citizens. However, reality is quite different as the empowered body — Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) — lacks power to pull up errant officials of various government departments or government-instituted entities like universities. The nodal body has the right to impose fine on Public Information Officials (PIOs) or grant compensation to the aggrieved party but no right to recover penalty imposed. A finding by Mirror shows that a majority of penalised PIOs have not paid fines to GIC till date. Fine imposed on the official is collected by GIC and goes to the government treasury while compensation is payable to the aggrieved party by the official. ONLY 149 PAY FINES Mirror has found that out of 367 cases, where PIOs were penalised or compensation