Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/SM/A/2010/000926
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 23 February 2011
Date of decision : 23 February 2011
Name of the Appellant : Smt. Nirmala Tirkey
W/o. Late Shri Charles Tirkey,
Alert Compound, Pathal Kudwapurulia
Road, Ranchi.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Punjab National Bank,
Inspection & Audit Department,
Jharkhand Circle Office, Ranchi.
The Appellant was present along with Shri J.A. Kauzar.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri A.K. Patra, Senior Manager was
present.
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
2. Both the parties were present in the Ranchi studio of the NIC during the
hearing. We heard their submissions.
3. The Appellant had sought a number of information regarding the
reimbursement/payment of various entitlements of her deceased husband who
served the Bank for more than 24 years and had been hospitalised due to a
paralysis attack prior to his death. The CPIO had taken quite a long time to
provide the information. Although he had provided extensive details against all
CIC/SM/A/2010/000926
the queries of the Appellant, she was not satisfied and felt that some of this
information was incorrect and misleading. She also expressed serious objection
to the inordinate delay in providing whatever information.
4. The Respondent submitted that the desired information was not held at
one place and had to be collected from a number of Branches and offices of the
Bank where the deceased had served from time to time during his career in the
Bank and, that was the reason why it took so long to piece together the
information. Looking to the volume and extent of information sought, we think
that some delay beyond the stipulated period of 30 days was inevitable;
nevertheless, we think that the CPIO should have collected it much earlier.
5. Be that as it may, we think that the Appellant should be shown all the
relevant records for inspection. Therefore, we direct the CPIO to invite the
Appellant on any mutually convenient date within 20 working days from the
receipt of this order and to show her and her representative all the records
relating to her queries. If, after inspection, she chooses to get the photocopies
of some of those records, the CPIO shall provide the same to her free of
charge.
6. The appeal is disposed off accordingly.
7. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Chief Information Commissioner
CIC/SM/A/2010/000926
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)
Deputy Registrar
CIC/SM/A/2010/000926