World · India Bureau
Haryana fines Gurugram town planner for RTI non-compliance
The Haryana State Information Commission has imposed a Rs 25,000 penalty on Gurugram's District Town Planner for failing to properly respond to a Right to Information query. The officer has also been recommended for training at a state administrative institute.
LSN India ·
The Haryana State Information Commission has slapped a Rs 25,000 fine on RS Batth, the District Town Planner of Gurugram, for non-compliance with transparency norms. State Information Commissioner Ajay Sura passed the order in response to an RTI petition filed by Bharat Jain, citing serious lapses in the official's conduct.
The matter stems from an RTI application submitted on January 4, 2022, in which the petitioner sought information regarding various rules, policies, and guidelines issued by the Town and Country Planning Department, including those governing the issuance of partial possession and possession certificates.
Beyond the monetary penalty, the commission has recommended to Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary that Batth undergo formal training in the discharge of official duties. The training may be conducted either at the Haryana Institute of Public Administration or another suitable institution.
Batth has been a frequently cited official in recent years for his enforcement actions against illegal construction, unauthorised occupations, and encroachments in Gurugram.