Information regarding details of public fund spent on Iftar parties hosted by the PMO etc. was sought - Respondent: there was no particular circular regarding it; instructions laying down the cutting on expenditure on the lunch & dinner shall be provided
21 Feb, 2015ORDER
1. The appellant, Shri C L Pawar, submitted RTI application dated 18 August 2012 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Prime Minister Office, New Delhi; seeking information regarding details of public fund spent on Iftar parties hosted by the PMO etc., through a total of 4 points.
2. Vide reply dated 23 November 2012, the CPIO, D/o Expenditure denied the information on the ground that the appellant had sought opinion/comments of the CPIO which was not covered under 2(f) “information” means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force; of the RTI Act, 2005. Not satisfied with the CPIO’s reply, the appellant preferred an appeal dated 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. December 2012 to the first appellate authority (FAA). Vide order dated 6 February 2013, FAA furnished information to the appellant.
3. Dissatisfied with the response of the public authority, the appellant preferred appeal before the Commission.
4. The matter was heard by the Commission. The appellant was not present during hearing. The respondent submitted that the appellant had sought clarification/opinion instead of information from the public authority. He also submitted that there was no particular circular regarding the Iftar parties hosted by the PMO etc. They only have rules/instructions which lay down the cutting on expenditure regarding the lunch and dinner for all the ministries and departments of the Central Government which will be sent to the appellant along with copy of the extract of the rules position from DFPR.
5. The Commission directs the respondent to furnish the above to the appellant within 7 days of the receipt of the order of the Commission. The appeal is disposed of.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri C L Pawar v. Department of Expenditure in Appeal: No. CIC/MP/A/2014/000258