Haryana Information Commission Slams Faridabad Municipal Corporation for Appointing Clerical Staff as SPIOs

In a scathing critique of administrative practices, the Haryana State Information Commission has raised serious objections regarding the appointment of assistant-level clerical cadre employees as State Public Information Officers (SPIOs) within the Faridabad Municipal Corporation. Highlighting the critical legal responsibilities mandated by the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, regulatory authorities have emphasized that handling public information requests requires judicial comprehension, administrative experience, and executive authority rather than mere clerical processing.The Core of the Controversy: Administrative Experience vs. Clerical RanksThe issue came to light during hearings on a formal complaint filed by Faridabad resident Deepak Tripathi concerning information sought from the municipal body. During the proceedings, the Commission examined a corporation memorandum issued on August 25, 2025, which had officially designated assistant-level officers—who belong to the clerical cadre positioned one rank above a standard clerk—as SPIOs.Presiding over the bench, State Information Commissioner Dr. Ajay Sura delivered sharp remarks, noting that designating junior clerical staff as SPIOs fundamentally undermines the spirit and purpose of the RTI Act. The Commission firmly stated that an SPIO's duties extend far beyond compiling records; they must independently evaluate whether requested information falls under public domain guidelines or statutory exemptions, striking a delicate balance between transparency and legally protected privacy or security interests.Violating State Guidelines and Impeding TransparencyThe Commission pointedly referenced official directives issued by the Haryana Government’s Chief Secretary's Office on August 14, 2018, which explicitly mandated that only sufficiently senior officers should be nominated to hold positions as SPIOs and First Appellate Authorities. According to the bench, the Faridabad Corporation's appointment policy directly flouted these state-level instructions.Furthermore, regulatory observations highlighted practical administrative hurdles: senior-level officers possess broader institutional oversight, ensuring better access to records spread across disparate municipal branches. They are also uniquely empowered to seek necessary assistance from subordinate staff under Section 5(4) of the RTI Act. Junior administrative staff, conversely, often lack the requisite leverage and legal clarity to adjudicate complex information requests effectively.Recommendations for Immediate Administrative ReviewWhile stopping short of issuing an immediate punitive directive, the State Information Commission strongly advised the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad to thoroughly review and overhaul the existing designation system. The Commission urged the civic body to replace junior appointees with appropriate mid-level or senior officials endowed with adequate administrative authority and legal insight, ensuring strict adherence to transparency laws and better governance standards across Haryana's urban local bodies.