CHANDIGARH, June 5 -- The Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC) has expressed serious concern over the inability of the Amritsar municipal corporation (MC) to trace official records relating to Ganpati Tower, a prominent five-storey commercial complex on Lawrence Road, while raising larger questions about the civic body's capacity to detect and act against illegal constructions and violations of building norms. In a strongly worded order, chief information commissioner Inderpal Singh criticised the repeated stand taken by the town planning wing of the municipal corporation that sanctioned building plans and related records could only be retrieved through general registration (GR) numbers or specific file numbers, and not through the name or address of aproperty. The commission termed the explanation untenable and observed that such a position undermines the very framework of urban planning enforcement. It questioned how municipal authorities could identify unauthorised constructions or investigate violations of sanctioned building plans if basic property details were insufficient to trace official records. The matter arose from a right to information (RTI) application filed by Amritsar resident Om Prakash Chitkara, who sought detailed information concerning Ganpati Tower. The information requested included ownership details, sanctioned building plans, parking provisions, details of any deviations from approved plans, and records of taxes collected from the property since 2007. Despite multiple hearings spread over more than two years, the town planning wing continued to maintain that the absence of a GR number prevented retrieval of the records sought under the RTI Act. Taking a stern view of the matter, the commission observed that if the municipal body's argument were accepted, action against unauthorised constructions could never be initiated unless property owners themselves disclosed the relevant file numbers. Such an interpretation, the Commission noted, would be contrary to the powers vested in municipal authorities under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, and the Punjab Building Bye-Laws, 2018, which empower the Commissioner to stop, demolish, or penalise illegal constructions. The commission further noted that the issue transcended a single property and raised broader concerns regarding transparency, record management and enforcement of building regulations across the state. In its latest order, the commission directed senior officials to submit detailed sworn affidavits before the next hearing. These include the chief town planner, municipal town planners, superintendent of the licensing branch, superintendent of property tax and officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). When contacted, MC commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said he was not aware of the matter and would examine the case. All departments concerned have been directed to submit their reports and affidavits before the next hearing scheduled for July 8....