Chandigarh: The Central Information Commission has issued a showcause notice to Public Information Officer (PIO), UT engineering department , over a tabletop pathway in Sector 17 In Sept 2022, the UT Administration had started constructing a 180-metre-long tabletop pathway on the road behind Neelam Cinema in Sector 17 for the convenience of pedestrians. However, the Engineering Department now claims it does not have technical details of the project. Harman Singh Sidhu, president, ArriveSAFE, had filed an RTI application in Feb 2023, asking for copies of the Architectural Plan and technical specifications section of Request for Proposal / Tender document of the 180 metre tabletop behind Neelam Cinema, Sector 17, Chandigarh.
The first appeal was heard on April 18, 2023, where the POI stated that requested information was with the consultant, and the First Appellate Authority directed him to supply the documents as and when received from the consultant. The second appeal was filed on June 15, 2023. After this, the Central Information Commissioner, in an order dated Aug 21, 2024, issued a showcause notice to PIO, Engineering Department, as to why maximum penalty under Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act should not be imposed against each of them for not providing the information and not appearing before the Commission despite notice, and provide point-wise information to the Appellant within four weeks.
Sidhu said, "It is unimaginable that the Chandigarh Administration is clueless abou.