SSP summoned over delayed probe in DDR tampering case

Ludhiana: The State Information Commission has summoned SSP Ludhiana Rural or DSP Dakha on a complaint filed by a Mullanpur resident, seeking details about the alleged tampering of the daily dairy report (DDR) at Dakha police station. The commission took note of the fact that the probe into the complaint was being conducted for more than two years.
Jagshir Singh of Mandi Mullanpur had filed an RTI application on October 25 last year, and sought information from the PIO (public information officer) office of SSP, Ludhiana Rural, with regard to the alleged tampering of a DDR. The complainant said that he, in his RTI application, had sought details about the DDR and alleged the tampering of DDR in 2017. However, no information was given to him.
When he did not receive any response, he filed his first appeal before the First Appellate Authority on November 2 last year. Later, he filed a second appeal before the Punjab State Information Commission on December 17 last year. The case was registered and allocated to the bench of state information commissioner Avtar Singh Kaler. Subsequently, a notice of hearing was issued to both the parties for February 11.
Taking note, the commission said, “I have gone through the RTI application dated October 25, 2019. The appellant sought information regarding his complaint dated September 23, 2017. I have discussed the matter with both the parties. The respondent who has appeared on behalf of the PIO stated that the investigation of complaint was still under process. The complaint was filed on September 23, 2017, and a period of more than two years has lapsed, but the complaint is still under process.”
“The Right to Information Act was enacted with a view to bring transparency and accountability in the functioning of the public authority. So, the PIO is directed that the investigation of the said complaint/application be completed, and the information sought by the appellant be provided to him before the next date of hearing,” the commission added.
The commissioner also directed the PIO or APIO (assistant public information officer) to remain present on the next date of hearing on March 6.