Chennai: The state information commission has condemned non-appearance of a public information officer (PIO) of the revenue dept for hearing on an appeal without prior notice and non-compliance with its previous order. The commission also ordered 2,500 as compensation to the appellant.Granting one week to furnish the information sought under the RTI Act, the commission has warned that it would appoint the revenue divisional officer (RDO) concerned as the PIO if the order is ignored again. The directions by information commissioner V P R Ilamparithi came when the appeal by Mangayarkarasi of Chinna Salem came up to check the compliance report of his earlier order issued in Feb. In her original petition dated 2024, she sought details of action initiated by the revenue dept on her plea and filed her second appeal before the commission since her petition under the RTI did not yield any response. In the Feb order, the commission ordered furnishing the required information along with 2,500 compensation and submitting the compliance report in person on April 17 along with the explanation for delaying information for two years. However, PIO P Natarajan, personal assistant of Kallakurichi RDO, did not appear for the hearing. Mangayarkarasi, who appeared in person, said neither did she receive information nor the compensation. Recording the submissions, the commission gave a final chance for compliance with its order and directed both the PIO and the appellant to appear for hearing on May 2.
