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Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:
Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO:
  • Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application.
  • Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application.
  • Malafidely denied the RTI request.
  • Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information.
  • Destroyed the requested information.
  • Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.
Amount of penalty:
The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.
Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?
  • a)
    The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.
  • b)
    The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.
  • c)
    The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.
  • d)
    The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questio...
According to the passage, a personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, such as when the CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request. Other conditions mentioned in the options (A and C) are not explicitly mentioned in the passage as grounds for imposing a penalty.
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Most Upvoted Answer
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questio...
Conditions for Imposing Penalty under RTI Act
The Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) can impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) only under specific conditions as outlined in the RTI Act. Here’s a detailed explanation:
Key Conditions for Penalty
- Malafide Denial: The CPIO must have malafidely denied the RTI request. This indicates an intention to obstruct or deny access to information unjustly.
- Failure to Provide Information: The CPIO must fail to provide information within the stipulated 30 days from the receipt of the RTI application without reasonable cause.
- Refusal to Receive Application: If the CPIO refuses to receive the RTI application without reasonable cause, a penalty can be imposed.
- Misleading Information: Providing knowingly incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information can trigger a penalty.
- Destruction of Information: If the CPIO destroys the information that has been requested, this is grounds for penalty.
- Obstruction: Any actions that obstruct the furnishing of information can also lead to penalties.
Clarification on Incorrect Options
- Option A (Failure to provide within 15 days): This is incorrect as the RTI Act specifies a 30-day period.
- Option C (Incomplete information with reasonable cause): If the CPIO has a reasonable cause for providing incomplete information, then a penalty cannot be imposed.
- Option D (Penalty for any reason): This is misleading; penalties can only be imposed for specific malafide actions as stated above.
In summary, the correct answer is option 'B' as it aligns with the conditions specified for imposing penalties under the RTI Act, focusing on malafide conduct by the CPIO.
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Question Description
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for CLAT 2025 is part of CLAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the CLAT exam syllabus. Information about Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for CLAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for CLAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for CLAT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:Under the RTI Act, the Central/State Information Commission (“CIC/SIC”) has the power to impose personal penalty[1] on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in case, the CPIO: Without reasonable cause refused to receive the RTI application. Failed to provide information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application. Malafidely denied the RTI request. Knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. Destroyed the requested information. Obstructed furnishing of information in any manner.Amount of penalty:The CIC/SIC has the power to impose a penalty of INR 250 each day till the RTI application is received or information is furnished by the CPIO. The total amount of such a penalty however, is not to exceed INR 25,000. Supreme Court has held that the CIC/SIC can impose a penalty only for the purpose of ensuring that the correct information is furnished to a person seeking information from a public authority[2]. Delhi High Court has held that, it can happen that the CPIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the CPIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. Only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the CPIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty can be imposed on the CPIO. The division bench of Allahabad High Court has held that for imposing penalty, an opinion has to be formed that the CPIO without any reasonable cause has not furnished the information within the time specified. The formation of the opinion has to be on the basis of objective consideration/relevant material and should also disclose the materials on the basis of which it is formulated. The RTI Act requires that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore showcaused by CIC before any decision to impose penalty on him is taken. The RTI Act provides that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the CPIO.Q. What conditions must be met for the Central/State Information Commission (CIC/SIC) to impose a personal penalty on a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under the RTI Act?a)The CPIO fails to provide information within 15 days of receiving the RTI application.b)The CPIO malafidely denies the RTI request.c)The CPIO provides incomplete information but has a reasonable cause for doing so.d)The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty for any reason.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice CLAT tests.
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