Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/WB/A/2010/000134SM
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 13 January 2011
Date of decision : 13 January 2011
Name of the Appellant : Shri K Irisappan & R Kothandaraman
No. 18, S V Koil Street, Koodapakkam &
Post, Puducherry - 605 502.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Union Public Service Commission,
(Sangh Lok Seva Ayog),
Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road,
New Delhi - 110 069.
The Appellant were present in person.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri K.S. Sampath, US & CPIO was
present.
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
2. We heard this case through videoconferencing. The Appellants were
present in the NIC studio at Puducherry. The Respondent was present in our
chamber. We heard their submissions.
3. The Appellant had sought a number of information regarding the
appointment and promotion of engineers at various levels by the Government of
CIC/WB/A/2010/000134SM
Puducherry from the year 1989 till the date of the RTI application, nearly a
period of 20 years. The CPIO had held that compiling information for such a
long period would disproportionately divert the resources of the UPSC and,
therefore, he would not be able to provide the desired information. The
Appellate Authority had also endorsed this decision while making some
avoidable disparaging remarks about the motive of the Appellant in seeking
such information.
4. During the hearing, we carefully considered the facts of the case.
Indeed, searching for the records spread over a period of 20 years is likely to
disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority and seriously
affect its daytoday functioning. The Respondent submitted that in the
intervening years, several restructuring exercises had been taken up within the
UPSC and it would be almost an impossible task to identify where all the
relevant records would be available. After discussing with both the parties, we
think that such information for a period of 10 years only prior to the date of the
RTI application should be provided. We, therefore, direct the CPIO to provide to
the Appellant within 20 working days from the receipt of this order the desired
information relating to a period of 10 years only preceding the date of the RTI
application. If, however, some of this information is not available even for a
period of 10 years, the CPIO shall provide the available information for
whatever period and shall clearly state the reasons why information for the
remaining period is not available. Needless to say, the information shall be
provided free of cost.
5. The appeal is disposed off accordingly.
CIC/WB/A/2010/000134SM
6. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Chief 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)
Deputy Registrar
CIC/WB/A/2010/000134SM