Seeking TA Bill details of an employee of Post Office -PIO denied stating that it is personal information of third party - CIC: TA bills of public servants are paid out of public funds and cannot be treated as personal information
23 Oct, 2013ORDER
Information sought:
Provide month wise TA Bill details and payment details of Mr. D.R. Suthar, ASP Jodhpur from the date of his joining at Jodhpur till February 2012.
Grounds for the Second Appeal:
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The appellant stated that there was misappropriation of funds at Phalodi PO which was enquired into by Mr. D.R. Suthar who had claimed various TA bills in connection with the said enquiry and he wants copies thereof. The CPIO’s representative argued that the information is personal in nature. The appellant contested stating that the TA bills of public servants are met out of public funds and the information cannot be treated as personal. He further stated that the Commission in the past has allowed disclosure of such information and cited Coordinate bench order in appeal NO. 07/IC (A)/CIC/2006 dated 06/03/2006 (Dinesh Berry v/s Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.) to support of his contention.
Decision notice:
The Commission in the past has held that TA bills of public servants are paid out of public funds and the information relating to these cannot be treated as personal information. The CPIO should disclose the information as above to the appellant within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
BASANT SETH
Information Commissioner
Citation: Mr. Ranulal v. Department of Posts in File No. CIC/BS/A/2012/001172/3454