Keonjhar/Hatadihi: The Odisha Information Commission has issued a notice to the Chief District Medical Offi cer (CDMO) of Keonjhar for failing to provide information related to Covid-19 under the Right to Information Act.
The commission, acting on appeal no. 502/2021, directed its assistant legal officer to issue the notice August 22.
The hearing is scheduled for September 23.
According to the notice, both the public information officer and the first appellate authority, the CDMO cum PHO (Public Health Offi cer) must appear in person with relevant records.
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It also states that if the CDMO cannot attend for any urgent reason, another officer with knowledge of the case and authority to respond may be deputed.
The case dates back to November 17, 2020, when an RTI application was filed seeking details about funds allocated to Keonjhar district for Covid-19 management by the state government and district administration, expenditures incurred, the number of Covid hospitals opened, their management responsibilities, and related spending.
When the information was not provided, the applicant filed a first appeal December 18, 2020, and later a second appeal with the commission February 8, 2021, after no satisfactory response.
PNN