615BMaheshVerma511
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Block IV, 4Th Floor, Old JNU Campus
New Delhi-110067
Appeal No. CIC/AT/A/2008/00615/LS
Applicant: Shri B. Mahesh Verma
Public Authority: Commissioner of Income Tax,
Bangalore
(through Shri B.K. Misra, I.T.O)
Date of Hearing: 05/11/2008
Date of Decision 05/11/2008
FACTS
OF THE CASE:
By his letter of 27/08/2007, the Appellant had requested for the
income tax return filed by Smt. B. Yasodamma, for the Assessment Years
available with the concerned officer of the Income Tax Department. CPIO
vide his letter dated 06/09/2007, had declined to disclose the information in
terms of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. The Appellate Authority vide order
dated 06/11/2007 had upheld the decision of the CPIO.
2. The present Appeal has been filed against the order of the Appellate
Authority.
3. The case was heard on 05/11/2008. The Appellant did not appear
before the commission. The Public Authority was represented by Shri B.K.
Misra, I.T.O. Shri Misra cited the following cases of Central Information
Commission wherein it has been held that information personal to a third
party is manifestly barred u/s 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, viz.,
• No.CIC/18/2006/00542 dated 31/01/2007 (BVA Rao case)
• No.CIC/80/2007/00464 dated 09/07/2007 (Bhushan Kumar Case)
• No.CIC/80/2007/00068 dated 25/06/2007 (Shri U. Verdaraya Nair
case)
4. In addition to the above, a similar view has been taken by the Central
Information Commission in F.No.CIC/185/IC/A/2006, No.CIC/MA/A/2006
dated 18/08/2006 (Bhagat Singh Vs. CIT, Agra).
5. As the legal position has been well settled in decisions pronounced by
the Central Information Commission that personal information such as
Income Tax Returns etc. are exempted from disclosure in terms of Section
8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, I find no infirmity in the orders passed by the CPIO
and the Appellate Authority.
6. Hence, the appeal is dismissed, being devoid of merit.
Sd/-
(M.L. Sharma)
Central Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied against
application and payment of the charges, prescribed under the Act, to the CPIO of this
Commission.
(K.L. Das)
Assistant Registrar