New Delhi (PTI) The CIC has issued a show cause notice to the National Commission for Women for not providing information to an RTI applicant within the mandatory period stipulated under the RTI Act.

"The NCW is in the habit of delaying furnishing of information and also not responding at all to RTI requests," Information Commissioner Annapurna Dixit said in her order.

Asking the Chief Public Information Officer of NCW to explain why a penalty of Rs 250 per day should not be imposed on him for not replying to an application, Ms. Dixit said there was an urgent need to streamline the functioning of the organisation.

"The Member secretary is therefore encouraged to look into this matter and fix responsibility for not furnishing the information and take appropriate action against the individuals," Ms. Dixit said.

The case relates to the RTI application of one Rehana Begum who in September 2008 asked several questions regarding the working of the NCW, including details of its Committee members.

The CPIO had replied that the information requested was available with different units of NCW and despite sending them several reminders there was no response from any unit.

It is not the first time that women body has come under fire from the Information Watchdog. The CIC had also pulled up the NCW for not providing information regarding the Nithari killings and it has also been fined on several occasions by the Commission.