Central Information Commission Judgements

Mr. Devender Kumar vs Municipal Corporation Of Delhi on 18 September, 2009

Central Information Commission
Mr. Devender Kumar vs Municipal Corporation Of Delhi on 18 September, 2009
               CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
                Club Building, Opposite Ber Sarai Market,
                  Old JNU Campus, New Delhi - 110067.
                          Tel: +91-11-26161796

                                        Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2009/001843/4866
                                               Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2009/001843

Appellant                              : Mr. Devender Kumar,
                                         House no. 10474, Manak Pura,
                                         Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005

Respondent                              : Public Information Officer,
                                          Municipal Corporation of Delhi
                                          O/o The Exe. Engg. (Bldg.)
                                          Sadar Pahar Ganj Zone,
                                          Idgah Road, Delhi



RTI application filed on               :       13/04/2009
PIO replied                            :       08/06/2009 after FAA order
First Appeal filed on                  :       21/05/2009
First Appellate Authority order        :       08/06/2009
Second Appeal received on              :       29/07/2009




S.     Information Sought                      PIO's reply
No.
(1).   (a) Complaint lodged vide no. 16830     The information desired by the
       dated 02/03/2009 in town hall.          Applicant is barred by the provision
       (b) Complaint in writing lodged on      of section 8(j) of the RTI Act, 2005
       02/03/2009 (diary no. 2501 in the O/o   and the same cannot be supplied to
       Deputy Commissioner) against Mr.        the applicant.
       Rajender Kumar, House no. 10856-57,
       Manak Pura, Gali Phool wali, Karol
       Bagh, New delhi.
(2).   Name of the official of AE Building
       Deptt. dealing with such matters
       pertaining to manak Pura area as per
       address cited above.
(3).   How much time it takes by AE Building
       Deptt. to initiate action against the
         person carrying out unauthorized
        construction after complaint is lodged to
        the O/o the MCD in writing.
(4)     Is construction of basement is allowed in
        Manak Pura, Delhi area.
(5)     Is construction being carried out in
        House no. 10856-57, Manak Pura, Gali
        Phool Wali, karol Bagh, New Delhi is
        authorized and permitted by MCD,
        Delhi.
(6)     Is in the Manak Pura area for
        construction, sanction of building plan
        and permission for renovation is
        required.
(7)     Has Mr. Rajinder Kumar, House no.
        10856-57, Manak Pura, gali Phool wali,
        Karol Bagh, New Delhi sought
        permission for construction/renovation
        of his house, if yes copy of the
        plan/permission may please be provided.

Grounds for First Appeal:
No reply received from the PIO.

Order of the First Appellate Authority:
PIO was directed to provide the requisite information as per RTI Act within 10 working
days. Appeal was disposed off accordingly.

Grounds for Second Appeal:
Unsatisfactory reply.

Relevant Facts

emerging during Hearing:

The following were present
Appellant: Mr. Devender Kumar
Respondent: Mr. Ajay Choudhary, AE-B, SPZ, on behalf of the PIO
The PIO has refused to give the information after a lapse of 53 days stating that the
information cannot be given under the provision of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. No
reasons have been provided for the denial and it appears that the PIO refused to give the
information with mala fide intention of protecting some unauthorized construction. The
deemed PIO Mr. Ajay Choudhary states that Mr. CB Singh, SE presently at Shahdara
North Zone, Zonal Office Building, SHahdara was responsible for sending this reply.
Decision:

The appeal is allowed.

Mr. Ajay Choudhary to directed to ensure that complete information is sent to the
Appellant before 05/10/2009.

The issue before the Commission is of not supplying the complete, required information
by the then PIO, Mr. CB Singh within 30 days as required by the law. From the facts
before the Commission it is apparent that the then PIO is guilty of not furnishing
information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of Section 7 as per the
requirement of the RTI Act.

It appears that the PIO’s actions attract the penal provisions of Section 20 (1).
A showcause notice is being issued to him, and he is directed give his reasons to the
Commission to show cause why penalty should not be levied on him.
He will present himself before the Commission at the above address on 15 October 2009
at 11 am alongwith his written submissions showing cause why penalty should not be
imposed on him as mandated under Section 20 (1). If any other person is responsible for
the delay in supplying the complete information to the Appellant, then the person may be
served this show cause notice as well and he should be directed to appear before the
Commission along with the then PIO.

The PIO will also submit proof of having given the information to the appellant.

This decision is announced in open chamber.

Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties.
Any information in compliance with this Order will be provided free of cost as per Section 7(6) of RTI Act.

Shailesh Gandhi
Information Commissioner
18 September 2009

(In any correspondence on this decision, mention the complete decision number.)RA