Reason for deduction of some amount from his pension, total number of pensioners from whose account money was being deducted etc. as other Bihar pensioners continue to get pension without any such deduction - CIC: provide copy of the order
19 Mar, 2014Reason for deduction of some amount from his pension, total number of pensioners from whose account money was being deducted etc. as other Bihar pensioners continue to get pension without any such deduction - Respondent: pursuant to division of State of Bihar, Ministry of Finance directed that the pre bifurcation beneficiaries would be treated as Bihar Pensioners and the Jharkhand pensioners are entitled for Rs. 300/- as monthly medical allowance while the Bihar pensioners were entitled for Rs. 100/- as monthly medical allowance - CIC: provide copy of the order based on which deduction of Rs. 200/- p. m. is being made from pensions of about 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. 000 Bihar pensioners (pre bifurcation)
Facts:
1. The appellant, Shri Muneshwar Mishra, Dhanbad, has submitted RTI application dated 16 July 2012, before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), State Bank of India, Patna; seeking information relating to the reason for deduction of some amount from his pension, total number of pensioners from whose account money was being deducted etc. through a total of 5 points.
2. Vide order dated 27 August 2012, CPIO furnished the information to the appellant. Not satisfied by the CPIO’s reply, the appellant preferred appeal dated 27 September 2012, to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) alleging that he had only been provided information on point no. 1 and other information had not been provided to him. Vide order dated 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. October 2012, the FAA furnished the remaining information on point Nos. 2,3,4 & 5.
3. Being aggrieved and not satisfied by the above response of the public authority, the appellant preferred second appeal before the Commission.
4. The matter was heard today via videoconferencing. The appellant Shri Muneshwar Mishra was present at the hearing and made submissions from Dhanbad. The respondent Shri Ranjan Srivastav, Chief Manager (Zonal Office), and Shri A. Thakur, Chief Manager (Central Pension Processing Scheme) made submissions from Patna.
5. The appellant submitted that the reasons of deduction of Rs 200/- per month have not been provided to him by the CPIO as other Bihar pensioners (prebifurcation beneficiaries) continue to get pension without any such deduction and also that he had not got clear reply to points 3 and 5 of his request under RTI relating to if he was one of the Jharkhand pensioners and the period till which the deductions will be made from his pension.
6. The respondent submitted that pursuant to division of State of Bihar, Ministry of Finance directed that the pre bifurcation beneficiaries would be treated as Bihar Pensioners. The Jharkhand pensioners are entitled for Rs. 300/- as monthly medical allowance while the Bihar pensioners were entitled for Rs. 100/as monthly medical allowance. Therefore, deduction process of Rs. 200/- p. m. from pensioners including appellant who had been given Rs. 300/- monthly allowance instead of Rs. 100/- has been started.
7. The CPIO added that deduction from the pensions of around 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. 000 Bihar pensioners is a lengthy process, hence it is taking time but the process of deduction is on and would be finished soon.
Decision Notice
8. The Commission directs the CPIO to provide copy of the order based on which deduction of Rs. 200/- p. m. is being made from pensions of about 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. 000 Bihar pensioners (pre bifurcation). They will also send clear reply to the appellant on points 3 and 5 of his request dated July 16, 2012.
9. Information as above is to be provided within one week of the receipt of the order of the Commission.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Muneshwar Mishra, SBI in Appeal: No. CIC/VS/A/2013/000295/MP