PENALTIES :

Section 20 of the Act imposes stringent penalty on a Public Information Officer (PIO) for failing to provide information. Every PIO will be liable for fine of Rs. 250 per day, up to a maximum of Rs. 25,000/-, for –

(i) not accepting an application;

(ii) delaying information release without reasonable cause;

(iii) malafidely denying information;

(iv) knowingly giving incomplete, incorrect, misleading information;

(v) destroying information that has been requested; and

(vi) obstructing furnishing of information in any manner.

The Information Commission (IC) at the Centre and at the State levels will have the power to impose this penalty. They can also recommend disciplinary action for violation of the law against the PIO for persistently failing to provide information without any reasonable cause within the specified period.