Maharashtra to punish ineffective information officers

Maharashtra has become the first state which effectively penalises 'information officers' in the state government for failing to provide information sought under the Maharashtra Right to Information Act.

Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today informed social crusader Anna Hazare that in the last two years since the Act came into force, the state had so far recovered Rs 35,000 in Nagpur, Rs 60,000 in Thane and Rs 40,000 in Aurangabad alone through fines imposed upon errant information officers.

Deshmukh assured Hazare that although a legislation on the transfer of government servants has not yet come into force, the state was already implementing the policy.

"Already we have started transferring state government officials in Mantralaya who have exceeded 10 to 15 years of service in the same department. Similarly, in order to ensure the speedy movement of files, we have introduced a mass computerisation drive in the state," Deshmukh said.

Deshmukh also assured Hazare that local self bodies such as gram sabhas in the state would be empowered through the decentralisation policy being implemented so that they achieve autonomy and are true peoples' representative body for the rural people.

Hazare noted that despite the existence of several information officers it was found in many cases that their name boards were missing, while in other cases where the boards were in place, the officials concerned were found shirking their duties.

Deshmukh assured him that strict action would be initiated under the state's Right to Information Act to ensure compliance.