Bhartesh Singh Thakur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 2
The proceedings before Haryana's State Information Commission (SIC) have revealed that neither the office of Chief Secretary nor Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department have information related to total remuneration paid to Justice SN Dhingra (retd), who led an inquiry commission into land deals involving Robert Vadra.
On the RTI information sought by senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, it has been told that counsel Tushar Mehta, currently Solicitor General of India, was paid Rs 61.6 lakh for eight hearings for defending Dhingra Commission.
State Public Information Officer (SPIO), political department of Chief Secretary office, transferred the RTI application of Khemka to SPIO-cum-Accounts Officer, TCP Department, under Section 6(3) of RTI Act. It was claimed that remuneration paid to Justice Dhingra was related to TCP Department.
Khemka had told the SIC that none of the SPIOs were submitting information. After that, Chief Information Commissioner Yash Pal Singal ordered for supplying information "in the interest of justice, transparency, accountability and good governance" vide its order dated, October 27, 2020, within 15 days and sought compliance report.
SPIO of TCP Department told Khemka vide its letter dated December 15, 2020 that no amount has been paid to Justice Dhingra as per records.
Now, Khemka in a rejoinder, dated December 24, 2020, told the SIC that "this is a deliberate denial of information to cover up the huge waste of public money in appointing the Inquiry Commission. The Commission is requested to initiate penal action u/s 20 of the RTI Act and ask the government through the Chief Secretary to supply the information sought."
The SIC has sought replies from political department of the office of Chief Secretary and also TCP Department by January 15.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3rMArEI
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