PIO sought time to provide information regarding action against TPA for failure to issue material like guide book, ID Card to the insured; but no information was provided - CIC: furnish a copy of terms & conditions for allowing remigration for new product
11 May, 2014PIO sought time for providing information regarding action against the TPA for failure to issue material like guide book, ID Card to the insured and the number of policy holders (Senior Citizens) who opted for remigration from new product mediclaim policy (2007) to the earlier one etc as it had been asked in specific format; but no information was provided subsequently - CIC: furnish a copy of the terms and conditions for allowing remigration for new product
Facts:
1. The appellant, Shri Anant Meghji Nandu, submitted RTI application dated 25 October 2012 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Mumbai, seeking information regarding the total charges considered and payable to TPA by The New India Assurance Co. as per agreement, action against the TPA for failure to issue material like guide book, ID Card to the insured and the number of policy holders (Senior Citizens) who opted for remigration from new product mediclaim policy (2007) to the earlier one through a total of 5 points.
2. Vide letter dated 12 November 2012, CPIO acknowledged the receipt of the RTI application and informed the appellant that they had taken the matter with the department concerned and since the information had been asked in specific format and in detail, it would take more time, but no information had been provided afterwards. The appellant preferred appeal dated 4 January 2013 to the first appellate authority (FAA). Vide order dated 17 January 2013, FAA held that CPIO had responded vide letter dated 12.11.2012 & 18.12.2012. Vide letter dated 18.12.2012, the CPIO did not respond to all points of RTI application, the matter was remanded back to the CPIO for fresh disposal with the direction that the CPIO should furnish the said information within 2 weeks.
3. Dissatisfied 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 Anant Nandu, and the respondents, Shri Ranjit Gangadharan, Dy. GM/FAA and Shri Kiran Wanpal, CPIO, made submissions from Mumbai.
5. The appellant submitted that he had sought information regarding action against the TPA for failure to issue material like guide book, ID Card to the insured and the number of policy holders (Senior Citizens) who opted for remigration from new product mediclaim policy (2007) to the earlier one. The appellant submitted that initially he had not been provided any reply by the CPIO in spite of the fact that the said CPIO asked for some more time to reply as the information was asked in specific format and in detail, but later on no reply was provided. The FAA had directed the CPIO to furnish information within 2 weeks he delayed replying to the appellant. He also submitted that he was satisfied with reply given on point no. 1 but not with the reply given on point nos. 2, 3, 4 & 5 of the RTI application. He also added that the CPIO concerned had not followed the provisions of Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 for transferring the RTI application to the appropriate department.
6. The respondent /CPIO submitted that the RTI application was originally dealt by Shri N.G. Sawant who had already retired and he had taken charge in the month of July only.
On point no. 2 & 3, respondent submitted that one TPA had been removed.
As per point no. 4 regarding the total no. of remigration allowed the respondents stated no separate record is being kept for that purpose as there are 31 Regional Offices spread across all over India and also submitted that they allow remigration of mediclaim policy on merits on case to case basis.
The CPIO also submitted on point no. 5 that they were ready to provide a copy of the terms and conditions for allowing remigration.
Decision Notice
7. The Commission directs the CPIO to furnish a copy of the terms and conditions for allowing remigration for new product (2007) to the appellant within 15 days of the receipt of the order of Commission.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Anant Meghji Nandu v. New India Assurance Co. Ltd., in Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2013/000847/MP