The Circle Office cannot evade the responsibility by passing on the papers from one place to another and replying to the complainant in bits and pieces - CIC: The nodal CPIO in Circle office should give a consolidated reply to the complainant
27 Mar, 2017ORDER
Facts:
1. The complainant filed RTI application dated 26.09.2015 seeking information on 16 points regarding Circle office (CO) letter dated 11.09.2015 viz.
(i) Copy of the letter,
(ii) Date of receipt of the letter,
(iii) Transit period b/w Regional office (RO) and CO offices along with mode of dispatch/receipt of post/communications etc.
2. The CPIO responded on 06.11.2015. The first appeal and the FAA order are not on record. The complainant filed a complaint on 16.12.2015 before the Commission on the ground that information should be provided to him.
Hearing:
3. Both the parties participated in the hearing through video conferencing.
4. The complainant stated that the respondent has not provided him the sought for information. 5
. The respondent stated that they are concerned with point nos. 7 to 9 related to Financial Services only and they have given a reply to the complainant on 06.11.2015.
6. The respondent further stated that the information pertaining to nos. of transactions in respect of NSCs and KVPs for the FY 2014-15 is not available with them.
Discussion/ observation:
7. This may be appropriately treated as 2nd appeal.
8. The Circle Office cannot evade the responsibility by passing on the papers from one place to another and replying to the complainant in bits and pieces. This is an incidence of poor handling of the overall reply.
9. The reply given by the respondent is not satisfactory.
10. The Circle office should coordinate in this regard, and after collecting the information, the nodal CPIO in Circle office should give a consolidated reply to the complainant within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order.
11. The nodal CPIO, Circle office shall show cause, within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order, why penalty should not be imposed on him for not providing the sought for information within the timelines prescribed in the RTI Act.
Decision:
12. The respondent is directed to take action as per para 10 above.
13. The nodal CPIO, Circle office is directed to take action as per para 11 above. The complaint is disposed of. Copy of the order be given to the parties free of cost.
(Radha Krishna Mathur)
Chief Information Commissioner
Citation: Bidhan Chandra Das v. M/o Communication & I.T, The Chief Postmaster General, West Bengal Circle in Complaint No. CIC/BS/C/2015/000249, Date of decision - 23.03.2017