Statement of a person recorded during the course of enquiry

Background

Information regarding the Departmental Postman Examination held in 2009 at Muzaffarpur Centre where gross irregularities in the conduct of the examination resulted in the cancellation of the same was sought under the RTI. The PIO provide most of the information except for the statement of the then SSPOs, Muzaffarpur, recorded by the Vigilance Officer. The PIO submitted that as the enquiry has not been fully completed, it will not be expedient to give copy of the said statement to the appellant.

View of CIC

The Central Information Commission noted that a Departmental Enquiry is under way and the Department is contemplating punitive action against the erring officials. The Commission held that as the case involves alleged corruption and mal-practices at the hands of those who were vested with the duty of conducting the examination, it will be in the larger public interest to supply copy of the statement of then SSPO to the appellant herein. The Commission also agreed with request of the appellant to allow the inspection of the entire file relating to this matter under RTI Act.

Citation: Shri Devendra Kumar Sinha v. Department of Posts in file no. CIC/LS/A/2011/000980