CIC: PIO can take assistance from the Rajbhasa Adhikari & have the material translated for documents disclosed u/s 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act on the website; In the interest of transparency, wherever possible Hindi version should be made available on website
23 Jan, 2023Information Sought
The appellant has sought the following information:
2. Provide following details pertaining to contractual employees of MECON:
- List with names, designation, monthly remuneration and tenure.
3. Provide details of total sanctioned posts and vacant posts in the Executive Grades and Non-Executive Grades at MECON. The details be provided category-wise, viz. SC, ST, OBC, etc.
4. And other related information.
Grounds for filing Second Appeal
The CPIO did not provide the desired information.
Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
The appellant was not present at the VC venue despite due service of notice on 10.11.2022 vide speed post acknowledgment no. ED118039194IN.
The CPIO on a query submitted that the reply given was as per availability of record. However, he stated that there are around 150 pages of documents which are there in English under Sec. 4(1)(b) Every public authority shall publish within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of this Act,- (i) the particulars of its organisation, functions and duties; (ii) the powers and duties of its officers and employees; (iii) the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability; (iv) the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions; (v) the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions; (vi) a statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control; (vii) the particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof; (viii) a statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public; (ix) a directory of its officers and employees; (x) the monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations; (xi) the budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made; (xii) the manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes; (xiii) particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it; (xiv) details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form; (xv) the particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use; (xvi) the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers; (xvii) such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year; of the RTI on the website of MECON. On a query, he also submitted that there is a Rajbhasa Adhikari in the office and in case time is allowed, information can be translated.
Observations:
Based on a perusal of the record, it was noted that the CPIO had provided a point-wise reply to the appellant vide letter dated 13.05.2021. The reply was perused and it was noted that in point no. 1 the CPIO categorically informed that the information sought is not available in Hindi.
Decision:
The Commission observed that available information was given. However, the CPIO can take assistance from the Rajbhasa Adhikari and have the material translated for each and every document disclosed u/s 4(1)(b) Every public authority shall publish within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of this Act,- (i) the particulars of its organisation, functions and duties; (ii) the powers and duties of its officers and employees; (iii) the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability; (iv) the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions; (v) the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions; (vi) a statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control; (vii) the particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof; (viii) a statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public; (ix) a directory of its officers and employees; (x) the monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations; (xi) the budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made; (xii) the manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes; (xiii) particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it; (xiv) details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form; (xv) the particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use; (xvi) the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers; (xvii) such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year; of the RTI Act and provide the same within 45 days to the appellant by uploading the same on the website and giving him the hyperlink.
In the interest of transparency, the CPIO can ensure that Hindi version, of the documents are made available on the website, wherever possible.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly
Vanaja N. Sarna
Information Commissioner
Citation: Ashish Kumar Singh v. MECON Limited, File No. CIC/MECON/A/2021/641089, Date of Decision: 18.11.2022