Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/SM/C/2009/001261
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 1 April 2011
Date of decision : 1 April 2011
Name of the Complainant : Shri Naresh Shah
Vill - Sunihara,
Post - Chapra Megh, Tehsil Musahari,
Distt - Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Indian Bank,
Head Office, Customer Cell,
66, Rajaji Salai, Chennai.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri P.K. Biswal, Senior Manager was
present.
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
2. In our order dated 22 February 2011, we had directed the officer who
was the Branch Manager of the relevant Branch of the Bank to appear before
us and explain why he had not acted on the RTI application in time resulting in
the delayed disclosure of information. The said officer appeared before us
today in person. He submitted that the RTI application had been received in july
and soon after he was relieved from that Branch on 8 September 2009. He
further submitted that the application was never put up before him by the staff
who might have received it.
CIC/SM/C/2009/001261
3. The information we understand was finally given to the Appellant on 19
March 2010 after we directed the CPIO to do so in our order dated 26 February
2010. For this inordinate delay, obviously, the responsibility would squarely rest
on two succeeding Branch Managers of the relevant Branch where the RTI
application had been received. Out of the two Branch Managers in question, the
present Respondent is responsible for a total delay of 48 days while the one
who succeeded him should account for the remaining delay in this case.
4. Before we take a final view on the imposition penalty, we would like to
hear the explanation of the officer who succeeded the present Respondent after
8 September 2009 as the Branch Manager of the relevant Branch. We,
therefore, direct the CPIO to forward a copy of this order to that officer who had
succeeded the present Respondent as Branch Manager after 8 September
2009 with a further direction that that officer should appear before the
Commission (Room No. 306, 2nd Floor, B wing, August Kranti Bhawan,
Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi) on 25 April 2011 at 12.45 p.m. and offer
his explanation, if any, for not acting on the RTI application until we gave our
direction on 26 February 2010. We will decide on the imposition of penalty on
both these branch managers only after we hear the explanation of the latter.
5. The cases disposed off accordingly.
6. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Chief Information Commissioner
CIC/SM/C/2009/001261
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/C/2009/001261