New Delhi, Aug. 20 (PTI): The Central Information Commission (CIC) has imposed the maximum penalty of Rs 25,000 under the RTI Act on a customs tribunal official for not providing information within the stipulated time frame.

Information commissioner Bimal Julka noted that the CIC took a serious view of the "lackadaisical/callous" attitude of Kripa Shankar, the assistant registrar and chief public information officer of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal and of his failure to comply with his duties.

Julka said the information sought by the applicant, activist and lawyer R.K. Jain, about the proceedings of the tribunal and its orders had not been provided by Shankar despite CIC orders.

In response to a CIC notice, Shankar had tried to blame his head clerk, saying the RTI application was not presented before him and he was not informed that the plea was pending.

The CIC has directed the tribunal to recover the fine of Rs 25,000 in five equal instalments of Rs 5,000 from Shankar's salary.