Respondent: Medical bill submitted by the complainant was processed repeatedly to PCDA (CC) Lucknow; Hospital has verified that bills are genuine and has given CTC of the same; Bills will be forwarded to the PCDA office - CIC: Complaint dismissed
16 Feb, 2024
Information sought:
The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 06.02.2022 seeking the following information:
“It is requested to you that I sent letters related to my mother illness on dated 20/10/2021 (copy annexed) and reminder dated on 17/11/2021 (copy annexed) by registered doc but still I am waiting for response related to it. I requested you please provide relevant information related to it.
Please provide the details including name, designation, and email id of the first appellate authority as per the provision of RTI Act-2005.”
Having not received any response from the CPIO, the complainant filed a First Appeal dated 12.03.2022. The FAA order is not on record. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Complainant: Absent
Respondent: Shri Ankit Kumar, CPIO, appeared through NIC.
The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that they had provided the information to the complainant vide letter dated 26.07.2022 wherein they medical bill submitted by the complainant was processed repeatedly to PCDA (CC) Lucknow. Besides, they informed that medical bills were forwarded to the Hospital, and they have verified that bills are genuine and have given CTC of the same. The same will be forwarded to the PCDA office for the necessary action.
Decision:
The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the respondent and perusal of the records, notes that the respondent has replied to the RTI application vide letter dated 26.07.2022 and copy of which is placed on record. Perusal of the records further revealed that the complainant has approached the Commission by filing instant complaint on the ground that no information or reply has been given by the respondent. Though, the respondent submitted that the complainant has filed online RTI application and therefore, reply is also sent through online mode. Thus, it is not a case wherein respondent has not given any reply or information. Moreover, the complainant neither filed any written objections nor presented himself before the Commission to controvert the averments made by the respondent and further agitate the matter. Hence, the submissions of the respondent were taken on record. There is no mala fide on part of the respondent while replying to the RTI application. Therefore, in the absence of any merit in the complaint, the same is liable to be dismissed.
The Complaint is dismissed accordingly.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Information Commissioner
Citation: Ashish Gautam v. Military Engineer Services, File No: CIC/MESER/C/2022/653209; Date of Decision: 12-01-2024