Denied info on IPDs' entitlements, complaint lodged with MIC
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 15: A com-plaint has been filed with the Manipur Information Com- mission against non-disclosure of information on entitlements and benefits of internally displaced persons sought under the RTI Act in August last year.
The complaint, filed by RTI activist Wahengbam Joykumar Singh of Wang-khei Hijam Leirak yester- day, said even after 11 months, the information he sought under the Right To Information (RTI) Act has not been furnished by the authorities concerned.
Notably, the RTI application seeking information on the entitlements/benefits of the victims/internally displaced persons who have been affected by the conflict between Meitei and Kuki-Zo community was first submitted to the State Public Information Officer (SPIO)/Office of the Chief Minister's Secretariat on August 16, 2024.
The information sought through the application mainly fall under Section 4 of the RTI, meaning the information should have been uploaded on the websites of the Departments concerned without requiring for citizens to request the same, said the complaint.
As the information sought wasn't furnished, an appeal application was submitted to the Appellate Authority of the CM Secretariat on October 10, 2024 on the ground that the SPIO concerned had "deliberately refused" to furnish the information sought within the stipulated period of 30 days.
Even after the first appeal was submitted to the Appellate Authority of the CM Secretariat, the SPIO concerned didn't release the information, it said.
A second appeal was then made to the Information Commission on January 7, 2025. However, instead of furnishing the information, the officials concerned of the CM Secretariat and the Home Department intimated to the applicant that his application had been trans- ferred to the Home Department.
Later on March 13, 2025, the legal officer of the SPIO of the Home Department, Balkrishna Heisnam, Joint Secretary (Home) provided some information "purportedly stating to be the required information".
However, the information provided was found to be misleading, incomplete and false, alleged Joykumar in the complaint.
He then submitted a rejoinder to the Information Commission on April 10, 2025. However, the SPIO/Department of Home has not provided a written reply to the rejoinder or the required information till date, said the complaint.
The very acts of the SPIO (Home) is becoming an "obstruction" to transparency regime of the country without any reasonable cause and the SPIO persistently, has not furnished information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the RTI Act, said the complaint.
Instead of furnishing the information sought, the SPIO/Joint Secretary (Home) informed that the list of the beneficiaries and other relevant information "will be" available with the respective office of the Deputy Commissioners. But, the Home Department has miserably failed to instruct the DCs concerned to upload the relevant information on their official websites as proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act, it said.
As per a directive of the Supreme Court, the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions must ensure proper implementation of the mandate of Section 4 of the RTI Act.
The Manipur Information Commission may take a decision and direct authorities concerned to upload the information sought on their respective websites for transparency and to ensure that nobody is allowed to misuse public funds meant for IDPs, said the complaint.
Further, the Commission may take a decision to appoint an SPIO and Appellate Authority of the CM Secretariat, to avoid delay in furnishing information, and take action against SPIO concerned for violation of provisions of the RTI Act, added the complaint.
IMPHAL, Jul 15: A com-plaint has been filed with the Manipur Information Com- mission against non-disclosure of information on entitlements and benefits of internally displaced persons sought under the RTI Act in August last year.
The complaint, filed by RTI activist Wahengbam Joykumar Singh of Wang-khei Hijam Leirak yester- day, said even after 11 months, the information he sought under the Right To Information (RTI) Act has not been furnished by the authorities concerned.
Notably, the RTI application seeking information on the entitlements/benefits of the victims/internally displaced persons who have been affected by the conflict between Meitei and Kuki-Zo community was first submitted to the State Public Information Officer (SPIO)/Office of the Chief Minister's Secretariat on August 16, 2024.
The information sought through the application mainly fall under Section 4 of the RTI, meaning the information should have been uploaded on the websites of the Departments concerned without requiring for citizens to request the same, said the complaint.
As the information sought wasn't furnished, an appeal application was submitted to the Appellate Authority of the CM Secretariat on October 10, 2024 on the ground that the SPIO concerned had "deliberately refused" to furnish the information sought within the stipulated period of 30 days.
Even after the first appeal was submitted to the Appellate Authority of the CM Secretariat, the SPIO concerned didn't release the information, it said.
A second appeal was then made to the Information Commission on January 7, 2025. However, instead of furnishing the information, the officials concerned of the CM Secretariat and the Home Department intimated to the applicant that his application had been trans- ferred to the Home Department.
Later on March 13, 2025, the legal officer of the SPIO of the Home Department, Balkrishna Heisnam, Joint Secretary (Home) provided some information "purportedly stating to be the required information".
However, the information provided was found to be misleading, incomplete and false, alleged Joykumar in the complaint.
He then submitted a rejoinder to the Information Commission on April 10, 2025. However, the SPIO/Department of Home has not provided a written reply to the rejoinder or the required information till date, said the complaint.
The very acts of the SPIO (Home) is becoming an "obstruction" to transparency regime of the country without any reasonable cause and the SPIO persistently, has not furnished information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the RTI Act, said the complaint.
Instead of furnishing the information sought, the SPIO/Joint Secretary (Home) informed that the list of the beneficiaries and other relevant information "will be" available with the respective office of the Deputy Commissioners. But, the Home Department has miserably failed to instruct the DCs concerned to upload the relevant information on their official websites as proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act, it said.
As per a directive of the Supreme Court, the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions must ensure proper implementation of the mandate of Section 4 of the RTI Act.
The Manipur Information Commission may take a decision and direct authorities concerned to upload the information sought on their respective websites for transparency and to ensure that nobody is allowed to misuse public funds meant for IDPs, said the complaint.
Further, the Commission may take a decision to appoint an SPIO and Appellate Authority of the CM Secretariat, to avoid delay in furnishing information, and take action against SPIO concerned for violation of provisions of the RTI Act, added the complaint.