Information regarding inaction of CBI on the complaint sought under RTI

Background

The brother of the appellant was missing for a very long time and he approached the CBI in the matter. The CBI, after analysis of the circumstances of the matter, decided that it was not a case fit for further investigation and informed the DoPT about its reluctance to take up the case. Disgruntled by no action of the CBI, the appellant filed a RTI application to know what action had been taken on his complaint. The Public Information Officer (PIO) replied that no action had been taken on it since the CBI had already, on a reference from the DoPT communicated its constraints for not taking up the matter for investigation. Dissatisfied with the information given to him, he filed the second appeal alleging that no one was taking sufficient and satisfactory action in the case of his missing brother.

View of CIC

The Central Information Commission observed that the CBI had already informed the DoPT about its reluctance to take up the case and the same was communicated to the appellant in the reply to his application. Further, the Commission advised the appellant to pursue the matter with the state police authorities, stating, that the appellant’s grievance regarding the inaction of the CBI cannot be redressed through RTI.

Citation: Shri Shashikant Thawait v Central Bureau of Investigation in File No. CIC/SM/A/2011/001456