The Manipur Information Commission (MIC) has directed the Home Department to pay Rs.10,000 compensation to RTI appellant W. Joykumar Singh for the prolonged delay in providing information relating to relief and rehabilitation of Internally Sisplaced Persons (IDPs) in Manipur.
In its decision dated August 17 in Appeal Case No. 2 of 2025, the Commission observed that nearly two years had passed since Joykumar filed his RTI application on August 16, 2024, seeking details of schemes, sanction orders, beneficiary lists, selection procedures and transparency measures concerning IDP relief and rehabilitation.
The Commission noted that despite repeated directions and a show-cause notice issued under Section 20 of the RTI Act in October 2025, complete information had not been furnished. It said important records, including State sanction orders issued to Deputy Commissioners, complete beneficiary lists, selection procedures and file notings, remained pending.
The Commission also noted the continued absence of the First Appellate Authority and State Public Information Officer at the final hearing and held that the prolonged non-compliance had caused detriment, mental harassment and loss of opportunity to the appellant.
The Commissioner (Home) has been directed to pay the compensation within 30 days, while the SPIO/Joint Secretary (Home) has been ordered to provide the remaining information free of cost within 15 days.
The Commission further directed the Home Department to proactively upload all disclosable information relating to IDP relief on its official website under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act.
The issue of penalty under Section 20(1) and possible disciplinary action under Section 20(2) against the concerned officials has been kept open and may be considered if the directions are not complied with.
