CIC expressed serious displeasure over the conduct of the then PIO for providing irrelevant reply in response to the RTI Application and directed to serve a copy of the order conveying Commission’s displeasure to Mohan Singh Saini, JD (Reception) and PIO
15 Mar, 2020Information sought:
The Appellant sought information pertaining to orders issued in connection with security of the employees’ belongings; details of duties and powers of Director, Addl. Director and Section Officer etc. through 3 points.
Grounds for the Second Appeal:
The CPIO has not provided the desired information.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Not present.
Respondent: Hemant Kumar Hem, Joint Director & CPIO, O/o Joint Director (Reception), M/o Defence Chief Security Office, ‘H’ Block, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi
CPIO submitted that he has taken over the charge of CPIO recently and no rules/orders exist for safe keeping of employees’ belongings sought at para 1 of the RTI Application. He further submitted that information sought at para 2 of the RTI Application, necessary provision of upholding integrity of employees is available in the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 which is on public domain. He furthermore submitted that on information sought at para 3 of the RTI Application, the RTI Application has been transferred to CPIO, Dy.CAO (Coord), MoD under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act on 31.01.2018.
Decision
Commission has gone through the case records and expresses serious displeasure over the conduct of the then CPIO for providing irrelevant reply in response to paras 1 and 2 of the RTI Application vide letter dated 31.01.2018. On the basis of the proceedings during hearing, Commission further observes that the part of the RTI Application i.e., para 3 of the RTI Application has been transferred to CPIO, O/o Dy.CAO (Coord), MoD on 31.01.2018.
In view of the above, Commission directs the CPIO to provide averred information stated by him during the proceeding of the hearing in connection with paras 1 and 2 of the RTI Application to the Appellant free of cost within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order. However, in absence of the Appellant, Commission is not in a position to ascertain whether the Appellant has received necessary information sought at para 3 of the RTI Application from CPIO, O/o Dy.CAO (Coord), MoD.
CPIO is directed to serve a copy of the instant order conveying Commission’s displeasure to Mohan Singh Saini, Joint Director (Reception) and the then CPIO at his present place of posting within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly
Divya Prakash Sinha
Information Commissioner
Citation: Chandra Singh Rawat v. CPIO, O/o. Joint Director (Reception), M/o Defence Chief Security Office in File No : CIC/SECOF/A/2018/622479, Date of Decision : 06/02/2020