RTI application seeking information regarding Rajbhasha award

Background

The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) act seeking information with regard to Rajbhasha award under a particular scheme such as the Rajbhasha rules based on which certain conditions were incorporated in the letters issued by the Public Authority, the policy for announcement/disbursement of awards. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided a point wise reply to the appellant.

Proceeding

During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant expressed her grievance against the Public Authority for not implementing the award disbursement policy under the 20000 word plan as it exists and instead stipulating certain conditions that are not there in the policy. The appellant requested for the rules which allowed the Public Authority to include the conditions in the directives sent out by the Public Authority for implementing the policy. The respondents clarified that there are no such rules available in the records so the same cannot be provided to them.

View of CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC) noted that the appellant wanted to know why certain conditions were included in the directives of the Public Authority in respect of giving awards although no such conditions have been mentioned in the policy. The commission directed the First Appellate Authority (FAA) to give a personal hearing to the appellant and to pass a speaking order as per provisions of law.

Citation: Ms. Jamna v. West Central Railway O/o Chief Workshop Manager in File No: CIC/AD/A/2012/001179