Information about loss of a locker key by a bank accountant - on appeal, the FAA directed the PIO to provide information relating to the transfer bill amount of the person involved in the matter - CIC: comply with the orders of the FAA
31 Jan, 2014O R D E R
RTI application
1. The appellant filed an RTI application with the PIO on 1.10.2012 seeking information about the loss of a locker key by one Shri Mukesh Gupta, Accountant in 2009. In all, information has been sought on 7 points. The CPIO responded pointwise on 31.10.2012.
2. Not satisfied with the reply of the PIO, the appellant filed an appeal on 7.11.2012 with the first appellate authority (FAA). The FAA, while generally upholding the reply of CPIO, directed the CPIO on 24.12.2012 to provide the transfer bill amount of Shri Mukesh Gupta, the information sought under first portion of point (g). The appellant approached the Commission on 31.1.2013 in second appeal.
Hearing
3. The appellant did not participate in the hearing.
4. The respondent participated in the hearing through video conferencing and stated that the appellant had, through his RTI application of 1.10.2012, sought information on seven points about loss of a locker key by an accountant of the bank in 2009, expenditure incurred by the bank in making duplicate key, action taken against the erring officer, etc.
5. The respondent stated that a pointwise reply was sent to the appellant on 31.10.2012 giving clear information to the appellant on points (A) to (E) and denying information on point (F) under section 8(1)(d) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information; and on point (G) under section 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.
6. The respondent further stated that on an appeal filed by the appellant, the FAA directed the CPIO on 24.12.2012 to provide information sought by the appellant under the first portion of point (G), which was relating to the transfer bill amount of the person involved in the matter.
7. The decision of the FAA is upheld.
Decision
8. The respondent is directed to comply with the orders of the FAA within 15 days of this order, if not already done. The appeal is disposed of. Copy of the decision be given free of cost to both the parties.
(Vijai Sharma)
Information Commission
Citation: Shri Amit Kumar v. State Bank of India in Decision No. CIC/VS/A/2013/000343/05709