PIO: the requested information was more than 10 years old and due to the computerization of database, it was difficult to trace old information; and as soon as the same is traced, it would be furnished to the appellant - CIC: order of PIO upheld
22 Jul, 2014Facts:
1. The appellant, Shri Yogendra Singh, submitted RTI application dated 17 December 2012 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), State Bank of India, Varanasi; seeking information regarding his PWS a/c under Police Welfare Scheme etc., through a total of 4 points.
2. Vide reply dated 14 January 2013, CPIO informed the appellant that as the requested information was more than 10 years old and due to the computerization of database, it was difficult to trace old information, and as soon as they are able to trace the same, they would furnish it to the appellant. Not satisfied with the CPIO’s reply, the appellant preferred appeal dated 14 February 2013 to the first appellate authority (FAA) alleging that he had been wrongly denied the information by the CPIO concerned. No order has been passed by the FAA in this case.
3. Not satisfied with the response of the public authority, the appellant preferred second appeal before the Commission.
4. The matter was heard today via videoconferencing. The appellant, Shri Yogender Singh, was not present at the hearing. The respondents, Shri S. Mitra, Law Officer made submissions from Lucknow and Shri P.P. Singh, RM/CPIO from Azamgarh. The appellant in his written submission had sought information regarding his account details of Police Welfare Scheme 1987.
5. The CPIO submitted that the information sought is more than 20 years old and despite making sincere efforts, the information could not be traced. Further the department has undergone from maintaining records in manual form to Bank Master System and to Core Banking System, accordingly the account numbers have also changed. The information thus may be traced if the appellant provided the specific account number in the new system. They made an attempt to find the details on the basis of the name of the appellant and of the scheme but could not find any information.
Decision Notice
The Commission accepts the CPIO’s submissions and dismisses the appeal.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Yogendra Singh v. State Bank of India in Appeal: No. CIC/VS/A/2013/000809/MP