Can the age of beneficiaries of the Old age pension schemes be disclosed?
29 May, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) seeking details in respect beneficiaries of the Old Age Pension including widows pension and physically challenged person beneficiaries of different categories in Ward No. 9 (years 2011 and 2012). The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided part information to the appellant.
Proceedings
During the hearing the before Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant submitted that information regarding age of the beneficiaries of the Old age pension scheme has still not been provided. The respondent submitted that the information is not available in collated manner with the Public Authority regarding the age of the beneficiaries of the Old age pension scheme and hence it would not be possible to provide it to the appellant.
View of CIC
The Commission observed that the information has to be available with the Public Authority regarding the age of the beneficiaries of the Old age pension scheme because the age is the minimal criteria in granting the pension under this scheme. The CIC directed the respondent to provide the information regarding the age of beneficiaries of the Old age pension schemes to the appellant for the said period.
Citation: Mr. Ashok Kumar Lala v. North Delhi Municipal Corporation in Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2012/001975
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1316
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