Central Information Commission
*****
No.CIC/OK/A/2008/00141
Dated: 30 September 2008
Name of the Appellant : Shri U.V. Ramana
Editor, Sri Ashoka Telugu Monthly
CSR Buildings, Hospital Road
Near R.T.C. Bus Stand, Madanapalle,
Chittoor Distt., 517325
Name of the Public Authority : South Central Railway
Background:
Shri U.V. Ramana of Madanapalle filed an RTI-application with the Public
Information Officer, South Central Railway, Secunderabad, on 9 June 2007,
seeking photocopies of the Service Register (SR) of Shri P. Krishnaiah, Chief
Public Information Officer, different Survey Reports including sketches and maps
with regard to the information of “New Railway Line” between KADAPA and
Bangalore, etc.
2. The PIO vide his letter dated 13 June 2007 replied to the RTI-application.
Not satisfied with the reply of the PIO, the Appellant filed an appeal with the
first Appellate Authority on 27 June 2007 who vide his letter 25 July 2007
replied to it. Thereafter, the Appellant approached the Central Information
Commission with a Second Appeal on 27 September 2007 which was registered in
the Commission on 19 February 2008.
3. The Bench of Dr. O.P. Kejariwal, Information Commissioner, heard the
matter on 18 September 2008.
4. Shri TPVSS Rao, CPO& CPIO, Shri Rajiv Vishnoi, SDGM & Appellate
Authority, Shri K.B.T. Naik, Dy. DPO, Shri A. Gopinath, FA & CAO, Shri Sudhansu
Sharma, CE/C/VI AND Shri Raghuram, Sr. Welfare Inspector, represented the
Respondents.
5. The Appellant, Shri U.V. Ramana, was neither present nor send any
representative for the hearing.
Decision:
6. In the absence of the Appellant, the Commission heard the Respondents
who in reply to the RTI-application of 9 June 2007 first held that the application
could not be entertained as it was submitted on a letterhead advising the
Appellant to submit his application on plain paper. However, when the
Appellant went into appeal, they provided him information on three of the four
items he had asked for. The information asked for against item no.1, however,
was not disclosed as the Appellant had asked for copies of the Service Register
of another employee of the Organization. While the Commission agrees that a
photocopy of the entire Service Register may not be provided, the Appellant
may be shown the Service Register and as for the information which is there and
which lies in the public domain, these be shown to him and copies thereof may
also be provided. However, while opening up the Service Register, Section 10 of
the RTI-Act (severability clause) may be kept in mind.
7. This may be done by 7 October 2008.
Sd/-
(O.P. Kejariwal)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
Sd/-
(G. Subramanian)
Assistant Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri U.V. Ramana, Editor, Sri Ashoka Telugu Monthly, CSR Buildings, Hospital
Road, Near R.T.C. Bus Stand, Madanapalle, Chittoor Distt., 517325
2. The Public Information Officer, South Central Railway, General Manager’s
Office, Personnel Branch, Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad
3. The Appellate Authority, South Central Railway, General Manager’s Office,
Personnel Branch, Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad
4. Officer Incharge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC