A certified copy of the caste certificate of a railway officer was sought - Appellant: he is seeking the information as he has basis to believe that this is a wrong certificate - CIC: the PIO to procure & provide the information to the appellant
4 Apr, 2014A certified copy of the caste certificate of an railway officer was sought - Appellant: he has basis to believe that this is a wrong certificate - Respondent: the same information was earlier sought by the same appellant and subsequently the appellant had on 10-4-2013 stated before the Information Commission that this information is no longer required (CIC’s decision no. CIC/AD/A/2011/001218, dated 25-10-2011 cited) - CIC: the PIO to procure & provide the information to the appellant
O R D E R
Facts:
1. The appellant filed an RTI application on 24-1-2012 requesting for a certified copy of the caste certificate of another official.
2. The CPIO responded on 17-7-2012 and 17-8-2012. The appellant filed an appeal with the first appellate authority (FAA) on 14-5-2012. The FAA did not respond. The appellant approached the Commission on 5-10-2012 in a second appeal.
Hearing:
3. I heard both the parties through videoconferencing.
4. The appellant referred to his RTI application of 24-1-2012and stated that he is seeking a certified copy of the caste certificate of an officer in the Railways whose particulars, including name and designation has been mentioned in the RTI application. The appellant stated that he has received a response from the CPIO on 17-7-2012 in which the CPIO has stated that no documents are available as sought by the appellant.
5. The respondent stated that the position in respect of the availability of the certificate sought is this that the office, to which the appellant had sent the RTI application, does not have the certificate but this is likely to available with the headquarters of the Railway Board.
6. The respondent stated that the same information was earlier sought by the same appellant and subsequently the appellant had on 10-4-2013 stated before the Information Commission that this information is no longer required. In this regard, the respondent cited Commission’s decision no. CIC/AD/A/2011/001218, dated 25-10-2011.
7. The appellant stated that he is seeking this information because he has basis to believe that this is a wrong certificate and this is why he is seeking a copy of the certificate as per his RTI application of 24-1-2012.
Decision:
8. The respondent is directed to procure the information sought in the RTI application from the relevant source and provide it to the appellant within 30 days of this order. Appeal is disposed of. Copy of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Vijai Sharma)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Rameshwar Ram v. South Eastern Railway in Decision No.CIC/AD/A/2012/003343/VS/06259