Principal in RTI trouble

SP College principal fined Rs 12,500 for ignoring request for recording of predecessor's speech

SP college principal fined Rs 12,500 for ignoring request for recording of predecessor's speech

SP College Principal Dilip Sheth and former principal Madhav Pendse have found themselves in a rather embarrassing position, as the Information Commissioner has slapped a fine of Rs 12,500 each on them for not providing information sought through an RTI application by a physics teacher of the college.

RTI ACTION: SP College Principal Dilip Sheth

The verdict was given by a bench of State Information Commissioner Office after an RTI application was filed by physics teacher Dinesh Suryavanshi.

Suryavanshi had sought information about a recorded speech made by Pendse on August 15, 2008, when he was still principal. According to Suryavanshi, Pendse made derogatory remarks on the Bhangi (scavenger) community in his speech. Suryavanshi asked for a recorded version of the speech from Pendse, and later from Sheth. "Pendse delivered a speech on the college campus and it was recorded. Even the demand made to Pendse was blatantly rejected," Suryavanshi said.