under section 17 of the RTI Act Pankaj should be suspended with immediate effect,” said a RTI activist Urvashi Sharma.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/217828/Ghost-of-mining-lease-still-haunts-UPSCIC.html

Ghost of mining lease still haunts UPSCIC

LUCKNOW | Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Pioneer News Service | Lucknow

The ghost of Mining department continues to haunt UP's Chief
Information Commissioner (UPSCIC), Ranvir Singh Pankaj, who has been
running for cover from RTI activists across the country.

A former Mmining secretary and a Dalit officer, Pankaj landed in soup
for the second time during his five-month tenure as UPSCIC, when the
Allahabad High Court slapped a penalty of Rs. 50,000 on him for
"misleading the court and extending favours to a leasee involved in
illegal mining."

Last week, the Court taking a strict view at his role as Mining
secretary when he had granted a lease, despite the ncumbent being
involved in illegal mining, directed him to submit Rs. 50,000 from his
salary as fine. The amount was to be submitted with the Registrar
General of High Court within four weeks for concealing facts, telling
lies and favouring the wrong man instead of acting against him. This
reserved judgement was passed by Judge Arun Tandon.

Referring to the High Court judgement, several RTI organisations
including Save RTI Campaign, All India RTI Awareness Forum, Rashtriya
Jagran Jansoochna Abhiyan Manch has petitioned the Governor BL Joshi
demanding the suspension of UPSCIC. Several outfits raising the same
issue took out processions in the districts.

RTI activists in a memorandums handed to the Governor also demanded
that a committee comprising High Court judges be set up and all orders
passed by Pankaj in his tenure be reviewed.

"It is highly objectionable that even after being fined by the High
Court, Pankaj continues to be in office as UPSCIC and is hearing
cases. Considering him guilty under section 17 of the RTI Act Pankaj
should be suspended with immediate effect," said a RTI activist
Urvashi Sharma.

Meanwhile, Ranvir Singh Pankaj told "The Pioneer" over phone that he
was out of the state capital and has not seen the copy of the High
Court judgement. According to sources close to Pankaj, the UPSCIC has
contacted the Law department of the UP government for filing an appeal
against the judgement.

Controversies have been plaguing Pankaj since his appointment as UPCIC
in June. The selection committee led Chief Minister which approved his
appointment, did not complete its quorum as the Leader of Opposition
boycotted the meeting. On these ground, a PIL pleading that his
appointment was illegal was also filed in the High Court.
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