RTI SHOCKER: ₹25,000 Penalty Slapped on Ex-PIO of Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation Town Planning Department
📰 YIIPPEE® NEWS NETWORK | INVESTIGATION | MAY 2025
📍 Mira-Bhayander | RTI Rights | Civic Corruption Watch
The ₹25,000 penalty was a direct slap on the Town Planning Department of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC)
Konkan Bench Blasts Delay in Cluster Development Info; Current PIO Also Faces Action
Moral of the Story: Transparency Delayed is Accountability Denied
In a scathing indictment of administrative apathy, the Konkan Bench of the State Information Commission has dropped the hammer on bureaucratic negligence — slapping a ₹25,000 penalty on Mr. Bharat Kundale, the retired Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC), for deliberate delay and obstruction in providing information under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
This landmark order emerges from a case filed by RTI activist Mr. Pravin Tiwari, who had sought vital details about the Cluster Development Scheme—including survey reports, tender documents, and payment records—through an RTI application dated 21st June 2023.
❗ What Happened?
- The MBMC PIO did not respond within the legally mandated 30 days.
- Despite the First Appellate Authority’s order on 30th November 2023 instructing timely disclosure, the information remained buried.
- Second Appeal was filed on 2nd February 2024, demanding accountability and enforcement of penalty clauses under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act.
⚖️ March 2025 Hearing: Bureaucracy Exposed
At the hearing held on 11th March 2025, the then PIO Ms. Sayali Sonawane attempted a last-minute damage control by bringing documents to the Commission. But the Commission tore into the excuses — declaring that bringing files to the hearing doesn’t erase the months of delay.
The real shocker came from former PIO Bharat Kundale, who tried to justify the delay by claiming he had sent a fee demand of ₹4,940 on 3rd August 2023. But the Commission was unrelenting:
“When information is not provided within the statutory period, it must be given free of charge. The respondent’s explanation is misleading and evasive,” the Commission declared.
🔥 April 2025 Order: Justice Delivered
On 24th April 2025, the Commission issued a hard-hitting order:
- ₹25,000 penalty imposed on Mr. Bharat Kundale under Section 20(1), to be recovered in 10 equal installments by MBMC’s Finance Department.
- Ms. Sayali Sonawane, the current PIO, was warned of impending penalty and given one final week to furnish the complete information and explain her failure to comply with earlier orders.
🧾 What Was Missing?
Despite multiple opportunities, the following documents remained unfurnished or incomplete:
- Tender copies and selection criteria of the survey agency
- Survey reports and terms of reference
- Approved bills and expenditure records
This missing paper trail is not just a technical lapse — it’s a denial of public oversight into a major urban development scheme involving crores of rupees.
📅 Next Hearing: 22nd May 2025
The Commission has summoned Ms. Sonawane once again. If her reply is found unsatisfactory, she too could face personal penalty and disciplinary action.
💬 Why This Matters
This case is a wake-up call for citizens and officials alike:
- RTI is not optional. It is a statutory right backed by penalties.
- Municipal officials will be held accountable for stonewalling or misleading citizens.
- The Commission’s ruling sets a precedent for penalizing inaction — even of retired officers.
🛑 Will MBMC learn or continue this bureaucratic arrogance?
🧾 Will Cluster Development transparency ever be achieved?
📢 YIIPPEE® NEWS NETWORK will be watching every move
Moral of the Story: Transparency Delayed is Accountability Denied
Report filed by YNN RTI Desk – For citizen alerts, injustice exposure, and government accountability.
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