Should the PIO calculate the interest payable on late payment of gratuity?
12 May, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the North Western Railway seeking to know the period for which the interest is payable on the late payment of gratuity to an employee who has been absolved of all the charges and declared not guilty. He also asked about his own case. The Public Information Officer (PIO) informed the applicant that interest to him is payable for 21 days and also stated that the applicant has not been fully exonerated from the charges leveled against him.
View of CIC
The Central Information Commission (CIC) observed that factual information has been communicated to the appellant. However, the CIC directed the PIO to provide a copy of Rule available on record under which the payment of interest on late payment of gratuity in the cases like the one the appellant has mentioned is made by the public authority.
Comment
Under RTI the PIO should provide the related documents and avoid giving any comments.
Citation: Mr. Kirti Kumar Gotharwal v. North Western Railway in File No: CIC/AD/A/2012/003471
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1274
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission