CMDA economical with truth on officials assets?

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has flouted the Tamil Nadu Information Commission’s directive to furnish information on assets and liabilities of its officials and ‘lied’ to the panel that it had provided the required information sought by a right to information (RTI) applicant.The State Information Commission (SIC) had ordered the CMDA to give the information to RTI applicant, Thirumalai Raja, on March 29 after an appeal to the panel and the appellate authority when the information was denied to him.Raja had sought information on annual assets and liabilities statement of assistant planners, deputy planners, senior planners, chief planner, personnel manager, administrative officer and senior estate officer in the CMDA, besides the last five years’ assets and liabilities statements of CMDA officials who retired two years ago, or of those who are about to retire in the next year.The RTI applicant also sought information on whether action would be taken against officials who were allowed to retire without furnishing the annual assets and liabilities statement for the last five years.The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the CMDA told the SIC on April 25 that letters bearing the information were sent to Raja’s address, but they were returned since he was not available. But what gave the PIO away was his reply when details were sought on when the letters were sent—saying they were posted on January 10, January 27 and February 2, much before the SIC’s order on March 29.Later when Raja demanded the information, the PIO refused, saying they were exempt under Section 8 (1) (i) of the RTI Act 2005.