Information regarding amount of petrol reimbursement claimed by CMD of PNB, details of journey, log book of the car and entitlement for reimbursement of petrol expenses were denied u/s 8 (1)(d) - CIC: furnish copy of guidelines for use of official vehicle
18 Oct, 2014Facts
1. The appellant, Shri H N Wadhwa, submitted RTI application dated 18 May 2013 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Punjab National Bank, New Delhi; seeking information regarding petrol reimbursement claimed by Shri. K R Kamath C.M.D of the Bank for performing the official duties during the period from 1 April 2013 to till date, through a total of 4 points.
2. Vide reply dated 18 June 2013, CPIO concerned furnished point wise reply to the information sought by the appellant. CPIO denied the information on points 2 & 3 on the ground that the information cannot be given to the appellant as the desired information is commercial confidence and exempted u/s 8 (1) (d) of RTI Act, 2005. Not satisfied with the information furnished by the CPIO, the appellant preferred appeal dated 26 June 2013, before the first appellate authority (FAA) stating that the information sought is in the larger interest of public. Vide order dated 19 July 2013, the FAA upheld the decision of CPIO.
3. Not satisfied with the response of the public authority, the appellant preferred second appeal before the Commission.
4. The matter was heard by the Commission. The appellant submitted that he had sought information relating to Shri K R Kamath, the CMD of the Punjab National Bank regarding amount of petrol reimbursement claimed month wise from 1.4.2013, details of journey, log book of the car and entitlement for reimbursement of petrol expenses but the CPIO had not provided me the information on the ground that the desired information is of commercial confidence and the same is exempted from disclosure u/s 8 (1) (d) of the RTI Act, 2005. The respondents submitted that the bank’s CMD does not get petrol reimbursement and also the information sought entails commercial confidence, hence cannot be furnished to the appellant.
5. After hearing both the parties, the Commission directs the respondent to furnish copy of guidelines/instructions for use of official vehicles as available in case of CMD to the appellant within 20 days from the receipt of order as available. The appeal is disposed of.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri H.N Wadhwa v. Punjab National Bank in Appeal: No. CIC/VS/A/2013/001978/MP