Odisha Information Commission getting helpless

Odisha Information Commission getting helpless as Corrupt officers  are seen denying information about land scam and showing careless attitude to the order of Commission

Slogan of Transparency by Nabin Patnaik , CM of Odisha   is false and fraud

 Dear friends

 In August, 2014,  Mass media  carried  out new about  huge acres of tribal  land  illegally occupied by leaders of BJD and BJP like  late Kalpataru Das and his MLA Son Pranab Balabantaray  and Sri K.V.Singhdeo, BJP MLA in name of her daughter and many powerful people  connected  with BJD party  in Ghangapatana  area of Bhubaneswar  under jurisdiction of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar through fraudelent means.       After this expose , all the opposition political parties and Civil Society Groups  coming to the streets  organised  protest   dharana demanding CBI inquiry  into scam.  It is popularly known as Ghangapatna land Scam in Odisha. It is another type of KIIT Land Scam in Bhubaneswar.   In the midst of protest, Chief Minister ordered  for  Crime Branch enquiry  and  after few days  the Govt. declared  that  70 acres of  land  of Ghangapatna returned  back to Govt. fold. It was highlighted  by all Print and Electronics Media during  that time.

  To verify the authenticity of information, RTI Application dt. 17.9.14 was submitted to the PIO,  Office of Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar   seeking information about details of  Ghangapatana land  returned back by Govt.  Though 30 days passed, the PIO did not supply   the information. Then, on 31.1.2.14,  I made first appeal to the First Appellate Authority  to hear the case and provide the information. Though 30 days passed, the FAA neither heard the case nor provided the information.  Then, Second Appeal dated 1.2.15 was filed in Odisha Information Commission seeking information and penalty against PIO under section 20 (1) of the RTI Act.

After two and half years, on 14.7.17., Mrs. Sashi Prava Bindhani, State Information Commissioner started hearing the  Second Appeal petition  Case No.  284/15.  The PIO, office of Collector, Khurda submitted that though he had noticed thrice to the Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar to provide the information,  he did not respond.  After hearing it, the Commission  issued  direction to the PIO, office of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar to produce all the information about Ghangapatna land to the Appellant within 7 days and fixed 16.8.17 for second hearing of the case.

On 16.8.17, during hearing, the PIO, office of Tahasildar  neither filed  any affidavit nor appeared  the case nor provided any  information.  The order of the Commission was simply thrown to the dustbin.    However, the Commission  has issued  notice  again to PIO, office of Tahasildar to  appear , file  the affidavit  in the next day of hearing dated 8.9.17.

On. 8.9.17, during  hearing,    the PIO, office of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar   neither appeared nor filed affidavit   to comply direction of the Commission.  The Commission , though a statutory bodyed empowered to exercise its power of Civil Society  is finding  very helpless  to take  appropriate action required under the law.  Finding very helpless,  the Commission  appointed  District Collector, Khurda  as Inquiry officer  to investigate into the matter about  continuous absence and  ignoring order of the Commission  and fixed another date 16.11.17 for next hearing.

Four years is  about over  without  supply of information  since fiiling of RTI Application in 2014.

It shows  how Odisha is badly governed without transparency  and accountability and dishonouring  statutory body like Odisha Information Commission.

 Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 9.9.17