NEW DELHI: The Central Information Commission has said the delay in furnishing information sought by an official of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here is not deliberate.

The Chief of Protocol and Public Relations, B.K. Dash, wanted to know why in October 2002 he was divested of his responsibility and his office belongings, worth Rs. 30 lakh, were sealed in his absence.

He filed an appeal before the Commission after the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) and the First Appellate Authority in the AIIMS did not respond to his request.

Central Information Commissioner Padma Balasubramanian said the CPIO explained that he had taken adequate steps to collect and collate information from various departments and furnish it to the appellant.

Earlier on May 16, 2006, the Commission held that though the delay occurred because the documents requested were under investigation by a high-power committee, it did not find any reason for the CPIO not taking effective steps to collect the information. It directed the CPIO to show cause why a penalty under Section 20 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act should not be imposed on him.

Reacting to the Commission's reversed decision, Mr. Dash said, "The CPIO may have taken adequate steps to collect and collate information but it was not furnished to me completely even after six months.

The provisions of the RTI Act make it mandatory for the Commission to impose a penalty when the CPIO does not furnish information on time."

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