Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/SM/A/2010/000326
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 24 November 2010
Date of decision : 24 November 2010
Name of the Appellant : Shri L R Joanwal,
Senior Manager,
1st Line, Indian Overseas Bank,
Regional Office, Rachana Building,
3rd Floor, 2nd Rajendra Place,
Pusa Road, New Delhi - 110 008.
Name of the Public Authority : Central Public Information Officer
Indian Overseas Bank,
Central Office, P B No. 3765,
763, Anna Salai,
Chennai - 600 002.
The Appellant was present in person.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri A.K. Mohanty, CPIO, was present.
Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
Decision Notice
Appeal rejected.
2. During the hearing of this case, the Appellant was present in our
chamber. The Respondent was present in the Chennai studio of the NIC. We
heard their submissions.
CIC/SM/A/2010/000326
3. The Appellant had wanted to know if the zone of consideration followed
by the Indian Overseas Bank for promoting SC and ST officers from M MG
Scale III to SMG Scale IV was subject to the Central Government’s Reservation
policy/the DOP&T guidelines. Although the CPIO had provided some
information/clarification on this, during the hearing, the Appellant submitted that
all that he wanted from the Bank was an answer in yes or no. Instead, he
argued, the CPIO had provided him with a detailed clarification without clearly
stating if the Bank was subject to the DOP&T guidelines in this regard or not.
On the other hand, the CPIO submitted that their policy in this regard was
already available in the public domain and widely circulated among all the
branches of the Bank and it was for the Appellant to compare the policy of the
Bank with any existing guidelines of the DOP&T and to find out if it was in
conformity with that or not. He pleaded that the CPIO could not be expected to
interoperate the Bank’s policy one way or the other.
4. We tend to agree with the arguments of the Respondent. Since the
Bank’s policy in this regard is already in the public domain and the Appellant
admitted to know about it, it is for him to find out if it is in conformity with some
government guidelines or not. The CPIO cannot be compelled to interpret the
Bank guidelines and pass any judgement as desired by the Appellant.
5. There is nothing more to be done in this case. It is disposed of
accordingly.
CIC/SM/A/2010/000326
6. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
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)
Assistant Registrar
CIC/SM/A/2010/000326