CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Appeal No.2580/ICPB/2008
F.No.PBA/08/166
July 30, 2008
In the matter of Right to Information Act, 2005 - Section 19
[Hearing on 18.7.2008 at 4.30 p.m.]
Appellant : Mr. Abhishek Gupta
Public authority: State Bank of Indore
General Manager & CPIO
Present: For Respondents:
Mr. Sudhir S. Tilloo, Chief Manager
Mr. S.V. Sankaran, Law Officer
Mr. Abhishek Gupta-Appellant
Mr. Arpit Gupta
FACTS
:
The appellant has sought information under RTI Act by his letter dated
20.11.2007 addressed to the PIO, State Bank of Indore, SSI Branch, Sajan
Nagar, Indore M.P. requesting for certain documents pertaining to the loan
account for which he along with his relatives stood as guarantors. He has
requested for six sets of information. After taking up the matter with various
functionaries the Bank has provided the documents on 10.12.2007 by providing
two more additional documents to the appellant. The appellant has preferred an
appeal vide letter dated 14.12.2007 and has sought for two more documents
from the AGM and from the first AA. In this letter he has requested for the
documents relating to the released property for Rs.189.95 lakhs. The AA had
refused to provide documents relating to internal valuation of those properties.
This appeal was disposed of by the AA. In the meantime, the appellant was
advised to visit the office to carry out the inspection of the records. The appellant
visited the branch on 2.4.2008 for physical examination of all documents and files
and on 3.4.2008 he has made an application to the branch to provide copies of
21 documents. The CPIO vide letter dated 1.5.2008 has provided 17 more
documents to the appellants. He has also given information against Sl. Nos.2 &
5 once again to the appellant. The CPIO has provided the valuation relating to
his property to the appellant but he has not provided the valuation report in
respect of other guarantors as well as the borrowers’ property valuation report.
The appellant filed this appeal before the Commission on 14.12.2007.
Comments were called for vide letter dated 10.3.2008, which was sent by GM-I
on 25.03.2008.
DECISION:
2. This case was taken up for hearing on 18.7.2008, which was attended by
the appellant along with his companion as well as by Chief Manager and Law
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Officer from State Bank of India. I have gone through the RTI application as well
as replies received in this connection. It is learnt during the hearing the appellant
as a guarantor has requested certain information from the Bank since the
borrower has brought down the loan amount from Rs.189.95 lakhs to Rs.89 lakhs
and he has also got the security pertaining to his case released from the Bank,
whereas the guarantor’s security has been retained with the Bank. The appellant
is quite aggrieved on account of which he has requested various information.
During the hearing, it is also learnt the appellant has been requesting information
in piece-meal manner in the original application he has only requested for only
six documents whereas the PIO has provided eights sets of documents. At the
time of appeal he has requested for two more documents, the CPIO could only
provide on document. When he was already given an opportunity to carry out
inspection of the concerned file, the appellant has requested for two sets of
documents out of 17 documents were given and some documents were given
once again since he has requested for the same. The only point at issue the
Bank has carried out valuation of the property mortgaged by the guarantors as
well as the borrowers through their own system which they do not want to share
with the appellant except his own valuation report. The appellant has stated
during the hearing all the guarantors are related to him and therefore he was
advised to give letter of authority from all the guarantors to collect this information
on their behalf. If he makes this request to the CPIO, he will be provided with
these documents within 15 days from the date of receipt of this decision. He has
also specifically requested for the letter sent by the Branch Manager to AGM on
24.9.2007 recommending to release the properties of the borrower, which should
be given to him since he is the affected party. During the hearing he has also
requested for the internal correspondence that have taken place within the Bank
for which the Bank has stated there is no connection with this case. Therefore
they do not provide this information. The appellant has already filed criminal
case in the court therefore for rest of the other information he can seek the same
through the court. On the above lines the appeal is disposed of.
Let a copy of this decision be sent to the appellant and CPIO.
Sd/-
(Padma Balasubramanian)
Central Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy :
(Prem Singh Sagar)
Under Secretary & Assistant Registrar
Address of parties :
1. General Manager & CPIO, State Bank of Indore, Zonal Office, Sectt. Of
AGM (I), 163, Kanchan Bagh, Ghiya Chamber, Indore-452005
2. Mr. Abhishek Gupta, 15, Jankeenagar, Main Indore-452001 (MP)
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