PIO: 3333 complaints have been disposed and 5897 are pending with the Lokpal of India till 28.08.2022 - CIC: No segregation of corruption cases available in records; Not the duty of the PIO to collate, compile or do research for the information
3 Jul, 2023
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 31.08.2022 seeking the following information:
“How many corruption cases have been disposed and how many people have been punished till date? How many corruption cases are pending with Lokpal.”
The CPIO furnished a pointwise reply to the appellant on 07.09.2022 stating as under:
“With reference to your online application under the RTI Act,2005, the pointwise reply may be read as under - Point No. 1.- A total of 3333 complaints (corruption cases and Other cases) have been disposed of by the Lokpal of India till 28.08.2022. Point No. 2- As per the record, no such data has been maintained in this office. Point No. 3- A total of 5897 complaints (corruption cases and Other cases) have been pending in the Lokpal of India till 28.08.2022.”
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 07.09.2022. FAA’s order dated 14.09.2022, upheld the reply of CPIO.
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, the appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through Video-Conference
Respondent: Shri R R Kushwaha, CPIO present through Intra Video-Conference.
The written submissions of the Respondent are taken on record.
The Appellant, during the hearing, submitted that he is not satisfied with the response given by the Respondent on his RTI application. He stated that he has specifically sought for details of corruption cases but the Respondent has furnished a consolidated data to him, which is not required.
The Respondent submitted that complete point-wise reply/information, as per the documents available on record has been provided to the Appellant vide their letter dated 07.09.2022. The Respondent, during the hearing, has further apprised the Commission that no segregation of corruption cases are available in their records. It is not the duty of the CPIO to collate, compile or do research for the information. The information which is held by the Public Authority in material form can only be furnished under the RTI Act.
Decision:
In view of the above, the Commission finds no infirmity in the reply and as a sequel to it further clarifications tendered by the CPIO during hearing as the same was found to be in consonance with the provisions of RTI Act, as the information sought by the Appellant in his RTI application has been provided by the Respondent based on documents available on record.
Nonetheless, the Commission directs the Respondent to share a copy of their written submissions with the Appellant on his e-mail ID immediately after the hearing is over.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Saroj Punhani
Information Commissioner
Citation: Ghulam Kundanam v. Lokpal of India, CIC/DOP&T/A/2022/651749; Date of Decision: 01/06/2023