Addressing the issue of reinstatement of services through RTI
5 Oct, 2012Background
The appellant had filed a mercy petition to the President of India regarding the reinstatement of his services. Later, he filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Ministry of Railways seeking the action taken by the public authority on the letters received from the President’s Secretariat in response to his mercy petition. The Public Information Officer (PIO) informed the applicant that letters received from the President’s Secretariat have been sent to the General Manager (Personnel), Northern Railway for necessary action. He also transferred the appellant’s RTI application to the PIO, Northern Railway, New Delhi for response.
Proceeding
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), it was submitted by the respondent that the appellant’s RTI application had been finally transferred to the PIO, Northern Railway, Delhi Division, for response since the appellant was working in Delhi Division. The appellant stated that the President’s Secretariat had twice sent the letters with a direction that a decision should be taken on his mercy petition. The appellant stated that no decision has been taken so far by the public authority. The appellant mentioned that the authority competent to take decision on this matter is the Member, Electrical, and Railway Board.
View of CIC
The Central Information Commission (CIC) directed the PIO, Northern Railway, Delhi Division to provide a suitable reply to the appellant. The CIC also directed the PIO to place the appellant’s mercy petition along with other relevant documents before the Member, Electrical, Railway Board, Delhi for a decision. The Commission further recommended that the Member, Electrical, Railway Board, New Delhi should examine the appellant’s case and take a decision on the matter as per the direction given by the President’s Secretariat.
Citation: Mr. Sartaj Ahmad v. Ministry of Railways Office of the Executive Director in File No. CIC/AD/A/2012/002008