Appeal No. 138/SCIC/2012 Decided on : 25/09/2014

GOA STATE INFORMATION COMMISISON

Ground Floor, Shrama Shakti Bhavan, Patto Plaza, Panaji-Goa

Coram : Smt. Leena Mehendale, State Chief Information Commissioner

Appeal No. 138/SCIC/2012

Decided on : 25/09/2014

Shri. Bhupendrasinh Rajebhosale

R/o. Plot No. 114, Krashikesh,

PDA Colony,

Alto- Porvorim, Goa. ---- Appellant

V/s

Village Panchayat Secretary Van Maulinguem/Public Information Officer,

Village Panchayat of Van Maulinguem,

Maulinguem (North), Bicholim ---- Respondent

O R D E R (Open Court)

RTI application filed on :03/05/2012

PIO reply dated : 29/05/2012

First Appeal filed on : 28/06/2012

FAA Order dated : 16/07/2012

Second Appeal filed on : 30/07/2012

1) This second appeal arises out of original RTI application dated 03/05/2012 made to PIO/Village Panchayat Secretary Van Maulinguem (North), O/o. Village Panchayat Secretary Van Maulinguem, Maulinguem North, Bicholim, Goa. In respect of house tax record of House No. 187 and 188 at Maulinguem, Bicholim, Goa.

2) When second appeal was fixed for hearing starting with 07/09/2012, the appellant remained present only on first two dates and has been absent thereafter till last date of hearing on 25/09/2014. PIO Shri Amol Sawant submitted that earlier PIO had already answered the Question No. 3 of RTI.

3) The reply to question No. 3 was as below-

“Panchayat House Tax and other since 1999-2000 to till date as per the Register of House Tax and professional Tax (copies of House Tax & professional Tax Registers page is enclosed)

Contd----2/-

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4) To this appellant raised quarry on 13/02/2012. Asking

“ My request was to provide, copies of documents relied on by the Panchayat for accepting the House tax and other taxes since 1999-2000.” You have provided Form 8 Demand and collection register with effect from 2003- 2004 onwards and not from 1999-2000 from which year Panchayat has started collecting House tax from Madhu R. Usapkar.

5) The present PIO has once again on 02/03/2014 requested appellant to visit office of PIO for clarification and inspection regarding available papers. However he has not responded.

6) I am satisfied with the action of PIO’s. It is possible that the relevant original document on the basis of which the Panchayat started accepting House Tax and other Taxes since 1999, being more than 10 year old are not readily available with the Panchayat.

7) Hence dismissed with liberty that the Appellant may approach PIO if he so wants, within three months of receiving this order and get clarification/inspection as offered by PIO.

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The second appeal therefore is dismissed with liberty. Order declared in Open Court. Inform the parties.

Sd/-

(Leena Mehendale)

Goa State Chief Information Commissioner,

Goa State Information Commission

Panaji-Goa