Disclosure of tour details of a Vigilance Officer under RTI

Background

The appellant had sought certain information about a Vigilance Inspector of Northern Railway with copies of TA journals, details of duty passes, copy of order giving outstation duty with purpose etc. The Public Information Officer (PIO) declined the disclosure of information citing exemption under section 8(1) (g) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. During the hearing, the respondent discussed the further case of RTI Act in which Commission held the decision that TA bills, tour details etc. of a vigilance officer should not be disclosed as they would reveal the source of information (informers) helping in law enforcement process the Vigilance officer is involved in.

Proceedings

The Respondents submitted that the disclosure of present information was denied on the basis of a circular no. 26/07/010 dated 15.07.2010 of the Railway Board which was issued following the Commission’s decisions holding that TA bills, tour details etc. of a vigilance officer should not be disclosed. They also cited the Commission’s decision in case No.CIC/AD/A/2011/000970 and CIC/AT/A/2009/00100 in this regard.

View of CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled that the information is exempt from disclosure under section 8(1)(g) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes; of the RTI Act.

Citation: Mr. Ashish Takhi v. Northern Railway Vigilance Branch Headquarters Office in File No. CIC/AD/A/2012/001229