Reasons for non payment despite use of book titled “Establishments in India” by the pubic authority - PIO: it is not clear to which office the said book was delivered - CIC: the information as available in the records of public authority has been provided
16 Apr, 2014ORDER
The present appeal, filed by Shri R.C. Gupta against National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), was taken up for hearing on 11.02.2014 when the Respondents were present through Shri P.K. Yadav, CPIO and Shri M.K. Goyal,AGM. The Appellant was however not present.
2. The Appellant through an RTI application dated 16.07.2013 sought certain information, interalia, regarding disposal of his letters (last being of 30.05.2013), he had sent to the public authority in relation to the payment of book titled “Establishments in India”. He also sought the reasons for non payment of said amount despite use of said book by the pubic authority.
3. The CPIO vide his letter dated 06.08.2013 furnished information in respect of point No.1 to the Appellant. As for point Nos. 2 & 3, he stated that it is not clear from application that the said book was delivered in which office. He expressed his inability to give information in the absence of any name and address of the person.
4. Dissatisfied with the CPIO’s reply, the Appellant filed an appeal dated16.08.2013 before the Appellate Authority which the Appellate Authority disposed of vide his order dated 18.09.2013 upholding the CPIO’s reply.
5. The Appellant then filed the present appeal before the Commission demanding that the Respondent be directed to release the payment of aforesaid book to him.
6. Having heard the submissions and perused the records, the Commission notes that the information as available in the records of the public authority has been provided to the Appellant and that what the Appellant is presently seeking is something which lies beyond the purview of the RTI Act since it is not a request for information as defined in section 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.
7. In view of the above, the present appeal cannot be allowed and is here by rejected.
(Sushma Singh)
Chief Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri R.C. Gupta v. National Thermal Power Corporation Limited in Case No. CIC/SS/A/2013/002860