RTI application seeking details of action taken on complaint regarding misbehaviour

Background

The appellant had filed a complaint to the Registrar, Administrative Division, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) regarding misbehaviour, negligence and use of filthy language by the Assistant Registrar and demanded an appropriate action against him. Later, he filed a RTI application seeking to know action taken on the complaint. The Public Information Officer (PIO) informed the appellant that his application has been forwarded to the concerned section for providing a suitable response and appropriate reply would be sent to him in due course of time. The same day the PIO sent another reply to the appellant that the complaint under reference had not been received in the Establishment Section of the Administrative Division; hence the information sought cannot be furnished. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) informed the appellant that the Assistant Registrar had been called and advised to be polite and more careful in future.

View of CIC

The respondent submitted that on the complaint of the appellant, explanation of Assistant Registrar was called and based on that he was advised to be polite in the future. The appellant made a request that a copy of the explanation given by Assistant Registrar should be provided to him. The Central Information Commission directed the PIO to provide a copy of the explanation to the appellant.

Comments

RTI has gradually emerged as a tool for forcing a public authority for taking an affirmative action.

Citation: Mr. Santosh Kumar Kappu v. Indira Gandhi National Open University in File No. CIC/DS/A/2011/001657/RM