Bhopal:PIO denies info under RTI, forges notesheets; MPSIC writes for disciplinary action

Bhopal

The MP State Information Commission has recommended disciplinary action under The MP Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965 against an officer who not only denied information to an applicant under RTI Act but also forged notesheets to justify his illegal actions.

The matter enquired by the commission revealed that the then PIO Krishnakant Pandey forged notesheets to frame his senior officer in the mess, said the or5der issued by State Information Commission Rahul Singh.

Prabhat Kumar Dwivedi, an RTI applicant had submitted a query under the RTI act with Katni Zila Panchayat office but was denied information and first appeal also did not help. In Second appeal lodged with MPSIC, it was revealed that the file concerned was with then Project Officer Krishnakant Pandey. On being served show cause notice by MPSIC, Pandey blamed then CEO ZP Priyank Mishra for the denial of information saying he had moved three notesheets before him but he did not act on them.

Now Katni Collector Mishra after getting a penalty notice by the commission denied receiving any file from Pandey on the matter. The collector also directed present CEO ZP Saket Malviya to enquire into the said notesheets and Malviya after the enquiry claimed that these documents were forged and carried overwriting at many places.

The SIC also found these conclusions true and when he asked Pandey to furnish evidences of sending notesheets to then CEO, he could not produce any evidence.

Issuing an order on the case on Monday, Singh said that forging notesheets is a criminal offence under sections 463, 464 and 465 of IPC and submitting a false affidavit is also a criminal offence under section—191 and 192 of IPC. “I have written to Development Commissioner, Panchayat Department to probe this matter further against Pandey and initiate disciplinary action against him,” said Singh adding no PIO is entitled to keep any file with him without taking justified action.

The SIC has sought an action taken report within a month from the department.

Published on: Tuesday, July 05, 2022, 05:43 PM IST