The Karnataka State Information Commission’s Kalaburagi Bench has imposed penalties on several government officials, including gram panchayat secretaries and development officers, for failing to furnish information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act within the stipulated time and for remaining absent during hearings, State Information Commissioner B. Venkata Singh said here on Friday.

In a press release, Mr. Singh said that penalties were imposed during hearings in April against officials who failed to respond to notices issued by the commission or neglected providing information sought by applicants.

Among those penalised are Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary Lakshman Shringeri, Assistant Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department in Gangavati taluk Devanna Katti and Raichur taluk Grade-II Tahsildar Parashuram.

The commission imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on Mr. Shringeri, ₹15,000 on Mr. Katti and ₹5,000 on Tahsildar Parashuram.

Penalties were also imposed on several gram panchayat secretaries and PDOs from different districts, including officials from Hullur in Jewargi taluk, Aldal in Surpur taluk, Aroli in Muddebihal taluk, Yelasangi in Aland taluk, Naganur in Surpur taluk, Gogi-K in Shahapur taluk, Hosadaroj in Sandur taluk, Saidapur in Yadgir taluk, Tadibidi in Wadagera taluk, Siddapur in Karatagi taluk, Hagaraga in Kalaburagi taluk, Paidoddi in Lingsugur taluk and Rama Samudra in Yadgir taluk.

The commissioner said that a total penalty of ₹1.5 lakh was imposed on 18 officials during April.

Mr. Singh said that the commission took up 564 cases for hearing during April and disposed of 229 cases.

He further said that since assuming office, he has taken up 3,084 cases and disposed of 1,308 cases during 88 days of hearings.

To ensure speedy disposal of RTI cases and create awareness among officials about the provisions of the RTI Act, workshops have already been conducted in Ballari, Bidar, Kalaburagi and Koppal districts.

Another workshop has been scheduled in Vijayanagara district on May 30, he added.