Application should be filed to the appropriate Public Authority

Background

The appellant sought the state wise details about the power/electricity generating units/plants through water, coal, atomic and wind along with the name of the private parties (Indian as well as foreigners) who were the owners of electricity generating units in India, as per the records of Central Information Commission (CIC) findings on the basis of appeals by the public in this connection. The Public Information Officer (PIO) returned the application and stated that the CIC is not the custodian of information and advised the appellant to approach the concerned public authority for the information and obtain the information accordingly under section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

View of CIC

The Central Information Commission rejected the appeal observing that the information sought by the appellant is not held by the CIC. The nature of the information sought made it very difficult for the PIO to understand where such information may be available and hence the PIO was unable to transfer the application to appropriate Public Authority.

Citation: Mr. Omprakash Kashiram v. Central Information Commission in File No. CIC/SM/A/2011/002298/SG