Complainant: He does not wish to press the matter as he only wanted to make the bench aware of the inaction of JS (Law), the then PIO - JS (Law): The state of pendency of RTI Applications was very alarming - CIC warned the PIO & closed the case
13 Feb, 2018Complainant stated that he does not wish to press the matter as he only wanted to make this bench aware of the inaction of then PIO, JS (Law) - JS (Law): He assumed the charge of his Section at a time when the state of affairs was very alarming in terms of pendency of RTI Applications & improper record management. He further affirmed that the resources available for his assistance were not adequate. CIC warned the PIO to ensure that strict compliance of time stipulations of RTI Act is carried out in future. Since Complainant expressed that he does not wish to press the instant matter for action, the case was closed
Information sought:
The Complainant sought copies of correspondences, orders, judgments etc received from Hon’ble High Court and Hon’ble Supreme Court from 16.10.2014 till date of providing the information; copies of registers, records computer data showing dairy details of receipt of the communications thus received; details of compliance of said orders.
Grounds for the Complaint:
The CPIO has not provided the desired information.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Complainant: Present in person.
Respondent: A.K. Sharma, CPIO (RTI Cell), S.P. Beck, JS (Adm) & Then CPIO, K.K. Pukhral, SO & CPIO (Legal Cell) and Yogesh K Singhal, JS (Law) & Then CPIO, Central Information Commission present in person.
Complainant initially requested for this matter to be treated as a Second Appeal. However, subsequently, he stated that he does not wish to press the matter as he only wanted to make this bench aware of the inaction of then CPIO, JS (Law) and hoped that in future CPIO, JS (Law) would adhere to the stipulations of RTI Act. CPIO, JS (Law) regrettably stated that he assumed the charge of his Section at a time when the state of affairs was very alarming in terms of pendency of RTI Applications and improper record management. He further affirmed that the resources available for his assistance were not adequate. He further ensured that if the Complainant were to seek any information at this stage, he will be readily provided with the same. Complainant stated that his Appeal filed vide registration no. CIC/CICOM/A/2016/302783 may also be disposed with the present case file.
Decision
Commission warns the CPIO to ensure that strict compliance of time stipulations of RTI Act is carried out in future. Since Complainant has expressed that he does not wish to press the instant matter for action, case is closed. Complainant’s request for disposal of the other file reference is also accepted.
Complaint and Appeal are disposed of accordingly.
(Divya Prakash Sinha)
Information Commissioner
Citation: R K Jain v. Central Information Commission in File No. CIC/SB/C/2016/000169/SD + CIC/CICOM/A/2016/302783, Date of Decision: 15/01/2018