Supply of furniture to FSI without work order revealed under RTI

Background

The appellant claimed that he had supplied certain furniture worth about Rs.3.5/- lakhs to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), on verbal orders by the Dean. He stated that he has the receipts for supply of the furniture items duly signed by the then Section Officer. He also claimed that he was promised that the work orders will be issued to him but no work order was issued to him and that the furniture supplied by him was still lying in FSI. But since no work order was issued the payment has not been made to him. To recover his money, he filed an RTI application seeking copies various letters pertaining to the supply of furniture by him. He filed the second appeal claiming unsatisfactory reply was given by the Public Information Officer (PIO) and the First Appellate Authority (FAA). During the hearing the appellant alleged that consequent to his filing the RTI application a letter was issued by Joint Secretary, asking him to take his furniture back. The respondent admitted that the bills sought by the appellant were on the files of FSI.

View of CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC) observed that the circumstances described by the appellant shows that he had some corroboration with the FSI and transactions between them seems to show some very irregular transactions. The Commission directed the Dean, FSI to inquire into the matter and ensure that photocopies of all records in the Institute concerning the said furniture should be send to the appellant.

Citation: Mr. S.R. Agrawal v. Ministry of External Affairs in Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2012/000906/18800