STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: A Srinagar court has sentenced Dr. Zahoor Ahmad Tantray, a Medical Officer in the Department of Indian System of Medicine (ISM) from Kupwara, to two years of imprisonment for filing false RTI applications under someone else’s name. The judgment was delivered by Magistrate Ahtzaz Ahmed.
The court delivered the sentence after hearing arguments on the quantum of punishment. The prosecution, represented by Advocate John Mohammad, sought the maximum sentence, citing the impact of the crime on the general public and emphasizing that the convict was a repeat offender. In defense, the convict’s counsel, M.A. Peerzada, argued for leniency, highlighting Dr. Tantray’s approaching retirement. The case has faced legal scrutiny for more than 11 years, starting in 2013.
The court sentenced Dr. Tantray to one year of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 under Section 419 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), with an additional three months of imprisonment in case of non-payment of the fine. Similarly, for the offense under Section 471 of the RPC, he received another year of simple imprisonment and a Rs 25,000 fine, with a further three months of imprisonment for non-payment.
The sentences will run consecutively, meaning Dr. Tantray will serve a total of two years in Central Jail, Srinagar. The court also ordered that any time already spent in detention during the investigation and trial would be deducted from the total sentence.
This landmark judgment underlines the serious nature of filing false RTI applications, misuse of important tools of transparency and the broader implications for public trust and administrative transparency.
