Section 20 – THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

(1) Where the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission,
as the case may be, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Central
Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has, without any
reasonable cause, refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished information
within the time specified under sub-section (1) of section 7 or malafidely denied the request for
information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information
which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in fumishing the information, it shall
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impose a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees each day till application is received or information is
furnished, so however, the total amount of such penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand rupees:
Provided that the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the
case may be, shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed on
him:
Provided further that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the
Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be.
(2) Where the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case
may be, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Central Public
Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has, without any
reasonable cause and persistently, failed to receive an application for information or has not furnished
information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of section 7 or malafidely denied the request
for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed
information which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the
information, it shall recommend for disciplinary action against the Central Public Information Officer or
the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, under the service rules applicable to him.