Disposal of a certain property by bank - information regarding alleged lapses committed by the bank - PIO: appellant was making baseless allegations and no specific information was sought - CIC: enable inspection of documents pertinent to RTI application
19 Nov, 2013ORDER
RTI application:
1. The appellant filed an RTI application on 23.06.2012 seeking information pertaining to lapses alleged to be committed by the respondent.
2. The PIO responded on 24.07.2012. The appellant filed a first appeal on 28.08.2012 with the first appellate authority (FAA). The FAA responded on 01.10.2012. The appellant filed a second appeal on 26.10.2012 with the Commission.
Hearing:
3. The appellant referred to his RTI application of 23.06.2012 and stated that the State Bank of India (SBI) has defaulted in not taking the permission from the ECGC before the disposal of a certain property. The appellant stated that according to the conditions of the process the SBI was bound to take clearance from the ECGC before the disposal of the property and this condition was not complied with. The appellant asked whether the SBI took prior permission from the ECGC before the disposal of the property.
4. The respondent stated that the RTI application of 23.06.2012 was actually not seeking any information but was a statement of allegations against the bank. The respondent stated that the appellant was just making baseless allegations that the SBI and ECGC were responsible for the appellant's business having failed, and it was in this light that the appellant, according to the respondent was seeking SBI to acknowledge the alleged lapses.
5. The respondent stated that the respondent had followed the due process and that there were no lapses on account of the SBI. The respondent said that in actual fact there was no information that was being sought but if there was any information that the appellant required the bank has no intention to withhold any information.
Decision:
6. The respondent is directed to enable the appellant, within 30 days of this order, to inspect the documents pertinent to the RTI application. The appeal is disposed of. Copy of decision be given free of cost to the parties.
(Vijai Sharma)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Dilip Shrishrimal v. State Bank of India in Decision No.CIC/VS/A/2012/001722/05304