Central Information Commission
File No.CIC/SM/A/2009/000740 dated 06-10-2008
Right to Information Act-2005-Under Section (19)
Dated: 31 March 2010
Name of the Appellant : Shri Purushotam Lal Garg
#169 B, Sector 51 A,
Chandigarh.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, State Bank of Patiala,
O/o the Accountant,
General (A & E) Punjab,
Sector 17 E, Chandigarh 160 017.
The Appellant was present in person.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri Murugappan, Law Officer was
present.
2. In this case, the Appellant had, in his application dated 6 October
2008, requested the CPIO for the copies of a number of documents relating
to the payment of pension and other benefits to the pensioner, his deceased
father and mother with effect from 1 January 1991. The CPIO, in his reply
dated 25 October 2008, refused to disclose the information claiming it to be
third-party personal information exempt under Section 8(1) (j) of the Right
to Information (RTI) Act. Against this, the Appellant preferred an appeal on
27 November 2008. The Appellate Authority disposed of the appeal in his
order dated 3 January 2009 by concurring in the reply given by the CPIO.
Consequently, the Appellant has come to the CIC in second appeal.
3. We heard this case through video conferencing. The Appellant was
present in the Chandigarh studio of the NIC whereas the Respondent was
present in the Patiala studio. We heard their submissions. We think that the
details about the payment of pension including the family pension cannot be
withheld by claiming it to be personal information. Information regarding
payment of pension like the payment of salaries and wages should be
CIC/SM/A/2009/000740
available in the public domain. If the information is available, it should be
provided. Therefore, we direct the CPIO to provide to the Appellant within
10 working days from the receipt of this order whatever information is
currently available in respect of the payment of pension/family pension etc
to the deceased parents of the Appellant.
4. We also advise the CPIO and the Appellate Authority not to dispose of
applications for information so summarily but to pass speaking order,
especially while declining to share any information.
5. The case is thus disposed off.
6. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
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.
(Vijay Bhalla)
Assistant Registrar
CIC/SM/A/2009/000740