Should the information given under RTI Act be addressed to the applicant?
6 Feb, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) seeking information relating to different Policies of ONGC. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided point wise information to the appellant. While filing the second appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant did not challenge the quality of information rather he contended that neither the information holder nor the PIO has directly addressed the information to him and therefore the same cannot be used as an authentic one. He stated that the PIO has only forwarded an internal note of their organization. He also submitted that if the information sought is addressed to me either by the information holder or the CPIO, then the provided information will become authentic one and his purpose will be served.
View of CIC
The Commission observed that the PIO has collected the information from the information holder and transmitted it under his covering letter, which is a perfectly valid mode of transmission of information. Therefore, the apprehension expressed by the appellant that he cannot use this information as an authentic one is totally misconceived and misplaced. The CIC rejected the appeal stating that there is no reason why information supplied to him cannot be treated as authentic one.
Citation: Mr. J.C. Kohli v. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in File No. CIC/LS/A/2012/002671
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1021
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