Report of bus accident prepared by the investigator of New India Assurance Company Limited
5 Jun, 2013
Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the New India Assurance Company Limited(NIACL) seeking Investigation report of a particular case and other connected cases as prepared by the Public Authority pending before MACT. The Public Information Officer (PIO) informed him that the court/ police authorities are the holder of information and not the Public Authority.
Proceedings
During the hearing the before Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant clarified that he is not seeking a copy of the police report but wishes to have a copy of the Investigators Report which was commissioned by the insurer. The appellant also submitted that many persons were hurt in the bus accident in which two persons died and the NIACL had appointed Investigator who prepared the report after visiting the homes of many victims. The respondent submitted that the MACT and other courts will only accept the police report and that the evidence value of the investigators report is minimal and therefore there is no larger public interest in the disclosure of this report that was commissioned by the insurer for their own use.
View of CIC
The Commission observed that the appellant is closely related to the matter as he is the legal counsel for the victims of the accident. TheCommission directed the PIOto provide the investigators report to the appellant. The CIC also held that the disclosure of the information would further the larger public interest of Administration of Justice.
Citation: Mr. VinayakPrashadMohantyv. New India Assurance Company Limited in Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2012/002000
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1340
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission