The Manipur Information Commission has for the first time imposed a stiff monetary penalty upon a senior official of the state government for failing to furnish information sought by a member of the public under the provisions of the Right to Information Act. The information commission has ordered IAS officer S Budhachandra topay a total amount of Rs. 9250 as fine within a period of 30 days for his failure not only to furnish the information sought under the RTI Act, 2005, but also to respond to orders issued by the commission in connection with the matter, while he was serving as state public information officer, SPIO, directorate of education (schools).