Information about upgradation & seniority list, copies of memos for promotion of various candidates, rosters, registers etc related to seniority was delayed as it was intricate & had to be compiled - CIC: compensation of Rs. 500 granted u/s 19(8)(b)
28 Mar, 2014Information sought:
The applicant through his RTI application having 11 queries had sought information about upgradation and seniority list, copies of memos for promotion of various candidates, copies of memos relating to Officiating in LSG, basis of officiating in LSG, rosters, registers etc related to seniority and various other 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. Ganauri Das through VC
Respondent: Mr. Ranjit Kumar Singh CPIO through VC
The appellant stated that it is a practice on the part of the respondent not to provide/ create delays in providing the information and consequently he has to file appeal(s) before the FAA/ the Commission which causes undue harassment and hence some compensation should be allowed. The CPIO stated that the information sought by the appellant was intricate and much of it had to be compiled and hence there was some delay in furnishing the reply. He further stated that the appellant had filed a number of RTI applications on the same issue and some queries are interlinked/ mixed up which also needs time for sorting and examination.
Decision notice:
The information has been provided to the appellant. However, from the foregoing it is apparent that the appellant did not receive the information timely. For the inconvenience caused to him, he deserves to be compensated. Therefore, in exercise of the powers vested in the CIC in Section 19(8)(b) In its decision, the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, has the power to require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered; of the RTI Act we direct the Department to compensate him by an amount of Rs. 500/- for the inconvenience and detriment caused to him. Accordingly, the CPIO should ensure that the amount of Rs.500/- is remitted to the appellant by demand draft/pay order within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
BASANT SETH
Information Commissioner
Citation: Mr. Ganauri Das v. Department of Posts in File No. CIC/BS/A/2013/000369/4673