Central Information Commission Judgements

Dr. Parwaz Uloom Azmi vs Central Information Commission on 27 July, 2011

Central Information Commission
Dr. Parwaz Uloom Azmi vs Central Information Commission on 27 July, 2011
                              CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
                                  Club Building (Near Post Office)
                                Old JNU Campus, New Delhi - 110067
                                       Tel: +91-11-26161796

                                                          Decision No. CIC/SM/A/2011/000371/SG/13679
                                                                  Appeal No. CIC/SM/A/2011/000371/SG


Relevant Facts

emerging from the Appeal:

Appellant: : Dr. Parwaz Uloom,
Urdu Development Organisation ,
B-518, G.T.l3. Nagar, Kareli, Allahabad.

Respondent:           :           Mr. M.C. Sharma
                                  CPIO
                                  Central Information Commission,

2nd Floor , B-Wing August Kranti Bhawan,
Bhikaji Cama Palace, New Delhi. 110066

RTI application: 16/03/2010
PIO reply: 05/04/2010
First appeal 03/05/2010
FAA order 25/06/2010
Second appeal 01/10/2010

Information sought:

The RTI application was in URDU language.

PIO’s reply:

In this regard, I am enclosing herewith explain procedure for filing a appeal/complaint before the CIC and
also enclosing CIC Management Regulations, 2007 for our ready reference.

However, from the perusal of your application it is seen that it is in Urdu language and we are not able to
read it. As per the Commission regulations the work is done in English and Hindi.

You may please provide us a copy of your application either in Hindi or English so that necessary action
can be taken from our end. Your application (in Original) is being returned to you.

Grounds for First appeal:

PIOs order wrong.

FAA order:

Provided information on various points raised by the appellant.

Grounds for Second appeal:

Not accepting RTI applications in URDU language is violative of Article 350 of the Constitution.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The following were present:

Appellant : Dr. Parwaz Uloom;

Respondent : Absent;

The Appellant states that he had made an RTI application in Urdu to the Commission and the
Commission has returned the application stating that they do not have the facility for translating the
application and dealing with it. The appellant insists that the Commission should have people who can
translate Urdu applications. If the Commission was to deal with all the recognized languages in the
country it would not be able to operate at all.

Decision:

The Appeal is disposed.

This decision is announced in open chamber.
Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties.
Any information in compliance with this Order will be provided free of cost as per Section 7(6) of RTI Act.

Shailesh Gandhi
Information Commissioner
27 July 2011
(In any correspondence on this decision, mention the complete decision number.) (SM)