Central Information Commission
*****
No.CIC/OK/A/2008/00404
Dated: 22 September 2008
Name of the Appellant : Ms. Sudha K Pandit
“Dnyanesh” 599 A, Maruti Mandir
Near Hotel Mithila, Ratnagiri, 415612
Name of the Public Authority : Konkan Railway Corporation Limited
Background:
Ms. Sudha K. Pandit of Ratnagiri filed an RTI-application with the Public
Information Officer, Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, Navi Mumbai, on 7
June 2007, seeking information/documents relating to the Departmental
Examinations held for different posts of the Information Technology
Department.
2. The PIO vide his letters dated 3 July 2007 and 30 July 2
2007 replied to the RTI-application. Not satisfied with the reply of the PIO, the
Appellant filed an appeal with the first Appellate Authority on 15 July 2007 who
vide his letter 21 August 2007 replied to it. Thereafter, the Appellant
approached the Central Information Commission with a Second Appeal on 2
February 2008 which was registered in the Commission on 24 April 2008.
3. The Bench of Dr. O.P. Kejariwal, Information Commissioner, heard the
matter on 19 September 2008.
4. Shri N.M. Telang, Dy. CTM & PIO and Shri S.C. Telugu, DGM & Appellate
Authority, represented the Respondents.
5. The Appellant, Ms. Sudha K. Pandit, was present alongwith Shri Manoj Pai
and Col. Anil Heble.
Decision:
6. The Commission heard both the parties and noted that while the
Respondents had supplied information against most of the items asked for by
the Appellant, there were still a few queries which had gone unanswered.
According to the Respondents, these were answered subsequently. On the other
hand according to the Appellant, this was not so. However, in short, except for
providing photocopies of the answesheets of candidates other than the
Appellant herself, the Commission directs the Respondents to provide the
information on rest of the issues brought up by the Appellant in her application
also those broadly raised during the hearing. Also during the hearing, the
Appellant referred to the harassment that she had to undergo in receiving the
information and pointed out to the Commission that the atmosphere of the
office was not conducive to inspection of records. The Respondents on the
other hand stated that their office was a very small one, and it was difficult to
allocate a separate place for the RTI-applicants to go through the records.
Whatever it may be, the only direction that the Commission would like to issue
to the Respondents is to ensure that to the extent possible, the Appellant is
provided a suitable atmosphere not only for getting the RTI-applications
admitted but also for every action thereafter, that is, for paying the fee
prescribed in the RTI-Act, and for inspection of records. According to the
Appellant, there were no signages to help the RTI-applicants. The Respondents
on the other hand contradicted this saying that the signages were present and in
proper places.
7. The Commission directs the Respondents to provide whatever information
asked for by the Appellant now by 15 October 2008.
8. The case is thus disposed of.
Sd/-
(O.P. Kejariwal)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
Sd/-
(G. Subramanian)
Assistant Registrar
Cc:
1. Ms. Sudha K Pandit, “Dnyanesh” 599 A, Maruti Mandir, Near Hotel Mithila,
Ratnagiri, 415612
2. The Public Information Officer, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., Belapur
Bhavan, Sector-11, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai
3. The Appellate Authority, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., Belapur Bhavan,
Sector-11, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai
4. Officer Incharge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC