FAA: providing details of arms license of individuals & copy of notes would amount to invasion of privacy which is exempt u/s 8(1)(j) - CIC: names of the applicants to whom licenses were granted is neither private or personal information
8 Feb, 2014FACTS
Heard today dated 17.1.14. Appellant not present. Public Authority is represented by Shri Honey Goel, OSD and Shri S.Ranjan, Supdt.
2. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 17.5.12 with the PIO, Home Dept., GNCTD seeking information against eight points relating to arms license. The CPIO replied on 20.6.12 furnishing point wise information. He, however, denied all the information u/s 8(1)(j) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information: Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person. of the RTI Act. Not satisfied with the reply, the Appellant filed an appeal dt.15.7.12 with the Appellate Authority. The Appellate Authority disposed of the appeal vide his order dt.13.8.12 stating that information has been furnished except copy of the details of the individuals and copy of the notes pertaining to individuals as providing such information would amount to invasion of privacy of an individual and personal security of those individuals because the information pertains to arms related matters. Being aggrieved with the reply, the Appellant filed a second appeal dt.6.10.12 before CIC.
3. During the hearing, the Respondent Public Authority claimed Sec. 8(1)(j) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information: Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person. exemption to refuse the information about licenses issued. But names of the applicants to whom licenses were granted is neither private or personal information. The Respondent Officer undertook to give names of the applicants to the Appellant within 45 days.
4. The appeal is disposed with the above direction.
(M. Sridhar Acharyulu)
Information Commissioner
Citation: J.K.Sharma v. Home Dept., GNCTD in File No.CIC/AD/A/2012/003472SA