CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
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F.No.CIC/AT/C/2008/00537
Dated, the 08th December, 2008
Complainant : Shri B.D. Sharma
Respondents : Registrar Cooperative Societies
This matter was heard on 02.12.2008 in the presence of both parties.
2. Complainant stated that following Commission’s order dated 16.09.2008,
respondents had conducted an enquiry into certain documents which were said to
be untraceable and have since provided to him all those documents as listed-out
in the complainant’s RTI-application dated 01.11.2007. These were provided to
the complainant on 16.10.2008 through a covering note of the respondents.
3. Complainant pointed out that the Audit Report for the year 1995-96 has
not yet been provided to him. Respondents stated that they will go back once
again and search for records and shall provide these Reports to the complainant
immediately.
4. It is now an admitted fact that due to poor record management in the
office of the respondents (Registrar of Cooperative Societies) certain important
documents such as Audit Reports of Cooperative Societies, which are required to
be maintained by the Audit Branch of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, had
not been properly maintained and were found to be frequently missing or
misplaced. However, following Commission’s intervention, respondents have
made a diligent search and retrieved the requested records and provided these to
the complainant.
5. In the circumstances of this case, it would be incorrect to proceed with the
penalty proceedings against the respondents as it would be difficult to pinpoint
the responsibility for delay in disclosure of an information which was not readily
available and had to be searched and retrieved.
6. In view of the above, the appeal and the complaint proceedings are closed.
Complainant was informed about it.
7. Copy of this decision be sent to the parties.
( A.N. TIWARI )
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
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