Details of expenditure incurred by BSNL Madhubani for inauguration of Telephone exchanges sought claiming expenditure of Rs. 55000/- while limit was Rs. 5000/- per occasion - CIC: Furnish the record preservation policy regarding contingency vouchers
2 Apr, 2016Information sought:
The applicant has sought the information about the date of inauguration of all the BTS Centers and Telecom Centers in Madhubani District. Also wants to know the name and designation of all the people present at the time of inauguration of mobile towers. Provide the total no. of BTS Mobile centers, their date of establishment, name of the landowner and the rent being paid. Also provide the details of the expenses made on the inauguration of BTS Centers and other related information.
Grounds for the Second Appeal: The CPIO has not provided the desired information.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing: The following were present
Appellant: Mr. Shiv Chandra Kumar through VC
Respondent: Mr. K K Jha CPIO’s representative through VC
The appellant stated that he wants to know the expenditure incurred by BSNL Madhubani SSA for inauguration of BTS towers & Telephone exchanges for the period 2007 to 2012. He also requested for copies of relevant vouchers. The CPIO’s representative informed that the expenses on inauguration of BTS towers and telephone exchanges were incurred prior to 2011 and as per the record retention policy contingency vouchers are preserved for three years. He further submitted that the maximum limit for such expenses is Rs. 5000/- per occasion and he has compiled all the details and will supply the same to the appellant. The appellant stated that he has information that the respondents have spent Rs. 55000/- on one single inauguration. The CPIO’s representative contested stating that it is possible that a Central Minister had come for inauguration and some private party had arranged the function but no such expense is recorded in BSNL books.
Decision notice:
As agreed by the CPIO’s representative he should forward to the appellant the expenditure compiled by him relating to expenses incurred in inauguration of BTS towers and telephone exchanges in Madhubani SSA. Further, he should also furnish to the appellant relevant extract of the record preservation policy regarding contingency vouchers. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
BASANT SETH
Information Commissioner
Citation: Mr. Shiv Chandra Kumar v. BSNL in File No. CIC/BS/A/2015/000097/9616