PIO: Information regarding the claims made under the Agricultural Debt Waiver & Relief Scheme of 2008 was available on the website - CIC: As the information is already in the public domain, it is no longer held by the respondents; no intervention required
26 Feb, 2016Facts
These files contain appeals in respect of the RTI applications dated 28.9.2013, 30.9.2013 and 27.9.2013 filed by the Appellant, seeking information on different issues. Not satisfied with the response of the Respondents, he has approached the CIC in second appeal in all the three cases.
2. In the RTI applications dated 28.9.2013 and 30.9.2013 (Files No. CIC/SH/A/2014/000495 and CIC/SH/A/2014/000496), the Appellant sought information on two points regarding crop insurance premium in the context of the KCC accounts specified by him in both the applications. He wanted to know the crop, in respect of which the crop insurance premium was paid in each case and copy of the relevant circular as per which this action was taken. The Respondents denied the information in both the cases under Section 8 (1) (d), (e) and (j) of the RTI Act. The Appellant stated that the denial of information was not justified because he had not sought any personal information concerning third parties. The Respondents reiterated their decision and stated that the accounts in question were closed in 2008 and the information in question may also not be available. We have considered the submissions made by both the parties and are of the view that information concerning the crop, for which premium was paid, can be obtained only by the account holders. The Appellant has not established any larger public interest for disclosure of this information to him. However, we direct the CPIO to provide the Appellant certified copy(ies) of the relevant circular(s). This information should be provided free of cost, within fifteen days of the receipt of this order, under intimation to the Commission.
3. In the RTI application dated 27.9.2013 (File No. CIC/SH/A/2014/000498), the Appellant sought information regarding the claims made under the Agricultural Debt Waiver & Relief Scheme of 2008. The Respondents informed him that the information in question was available on their website. The Appellant prayed that the Respondents be directed to provide the information to him in hard copy. The Respondents stated that the above information in respect of 162 branches was placed on their website under eleven columns, as per the prescribed guidelines. Having considered the submissions made by both the parties, we note that the Respondents having already placed the information in the public domain, it is no longer held by them and can be accessed by all interested persons by consulting their website. Therefore, intervention by the Commission is not necessary in this case.
4. With the directions in paragraph 2 and the above observations, the three appeals are disposed of.
5. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Sharat Sabharwal)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Surendra Kumar Goyal v. Prathama Bank in File No. CIC/SH/A/2014/000495 File No. CIC/SH/A/2014/000496 File No. CIC/SH/A/2014/000498