Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/A/2010/000661
Dated June 3, 2010
Name of the Applicant : Shri P.N.Bulchandani
Name of the Public Authority : CGHS, New Delhi
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.21.12.09 with the CPIO, CGHS requesting for information
against 10 points related to hospitals empanelled under CGHS including their date of empanelment,
payment details to the hospital, arrears pending against such services, copies of agreement signed
with hospitals empanelled under CGHS Scheme, Faridabad, facilities available in emergency to the
CGHS beneficiaries, timings for OPD for CGHS beneficiaries referred for treatment to such hospitals
under CGHS in Faridabad, no. of empanelled hospitals which had withdrawn their services for CGHS
beneficiaries and for what reasons etc. Dr.B.Badrinarayana, Nodal Officer replied on 4.1.10 providing
detailed information. With regard to the list of empanelled hospitals, he stated that the information is
available on the Ministry’s website mohfw.nic.in. Not satisfied with the reply, the Applicant filed an
appeal dt.3.2.10 with the Appellate Authority (Handwriting not legible). On not receiving any reply,
the Applicant filed a second appeal dt.9.3.10 before CIC stating that correct information has not been
provided to him.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the hearing for June 3,
2010.
3. Dr.B.Badrinarayana, CPIO, Dr.S.Barik, Appellate Authority, Dr.B.H.Hazarika, CMO(N) and Dr.Mohan
Lal, CMO(NFSG) represented the Public Authority.
4. The Applicant was heard through audio conferencing.
Decision
5. The Respondent submitted that as far as the agreements are concerned the format for all the
agreements is same and that the different Hospital authorities simply sign on the prescribed format.
This format is available on the website.
6. The Commission after reviewing the information provided along with the Respondents and the
Appellant directs the PIO as follows:
i) to provide the list of hospitals empanelled under CGHS in Faridabad
ii) since the text of agreements with all hospitals is same and is already available on the
website, and also since the Public Authority has signed the agreements with the Hospitals and the
agreements are not exempted from disclosure under any of the clauses under Section 8 of the RTI
Act, the copies of the agreements entered into by the CGHS with various hospitals empanelled
under CGHS scheme at Faridabad may be provided.
iii) to provide information against point (vi) in respect of emergency facilities available to the
CGHS beneficiaries.
7. The information should reach the Appellant by 3.7.10.
8. The Commission observed that the handwriting in the RTI application and that in the first appeal are
different and that the latter is not legible at all. The Respondent too during the hearing had
expressed his inability to read the handwriting in the first appeal because of which he was unable to
respond to it.
9. The appeal is accordingly disposed of.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri P.N.Bulchandani
President
Smarpan
H.No.1377, Sector8
Faridabad
Haryana
2. The PIO
Central Government Health Scheme
O/o Addl. Director (HQ)
9, Bikaner House Hutments
Shahjahan Road
New Delhi
3. The Appellate Authority
Central Government Health Scheme
O/o Addl. Director (HQ)
9, Bikaner House Hutments
Shahjahan Road
New Delhi
4. Officer incharge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC