Central Information Commission Judgements

Mrs.Ashlesha Mehta vs Air, Ahmedabad on 1 April, 2009

Central Information Commission
Mrs.Ashlesha Mehta vs Air, Ahmedabad on 1 April, 2009
             Central Information Commission
                                                         CIC/AD/C/X/09/00073

                                                              Dated April 1, 2009

Name of the Applicant                 :   Mrs.Ashlesha Mehta

Name of the Public Authority          :   AIR, Ahmedabad

Background

1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.15.9.08 with the CPIO, AIR, New
Delhi. She requested for the following information with regard to CBS, AIR,
Ahmedabad for the period Dec.2006 to Oct.2007:

i) Total amount of revenue earned from the productions of the spots and
jingles since Dec.2006

ii) Total amount of all the spots and jingles produced in house since
Dec.2006

iii) Copies of sanction orders of the sponsored/sponsorship programmes

iv) Copies of review/clearance certificate of the sponsored/sponsorship
programmes

v) Details of spots/jingles produced in house, free of cost – in terms of
cost & duration

vi) If so, then the amount of sponsorship/sponsored programme vis-à-vis
the cost of the said free in house productions of Spots and jingles to be
provided.

The CPIO replied on 30.9.08 denying the information u/s 8(1)(h) of the RTI
Act and stating that it is information which would impede the process of
investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders. The applicant filed
a complaint dt.16.1.09 before the CIC.

2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the
hearing for April 1, 2009.

3. Both the Appellant and the Respondent were absent at the hearing.

Decision

4. On perusal of the reply provided by the CPIO on 30.9.08 it was found that the
information was denied under Section 8(i)(h) of the RTI Act. Since the
Complinant has by-passed the first Appellate Authority and also since no
clarification or explanation has been given by the CPIO with regard to the
denial of disclosure of information under Section 8(i)(h) the RTI application is
remanded back to the first Appellate Authority for his/her decision.

5. The Complainant may approach the Commission if not satisfied with the
information provided.

(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:

(G.Subramanian)
Asst. Registrar

Cc:

1. Smt.Ashlesha Mehta
M-14/159, Vidyanagar Flats
132 Feet Ring Road
B/h Himmatlal Park – II
Ahmedabad 380 015

2. Mr.B.M.Pandya
The CPIO &
Station Director
All India Radio
Ahmedabad 380 009

3. The Appellate Authority & DDG(WR-I),
O/o DDG(WR-I),
All India Radio,
Backbay Reclamation,
Broadcasting House,
Church Gate,
Mumbai-400 020

4. Officer in charge, NIC

5. Press E Group, CIC