In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/A/2011/001407
Heard through Video Conferencing.
Date of Hearing : August 16, 2011
Date of Decision : August 16, 2011
Parties:
Applicant
Shri Ashok Kumar Jaiswal
No. 603B, Miloniganuj
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Ward
Jabalpur.
Applicant was not present.
Respondent(s)
West Central Railway
Divisional Railway Manager's Office
Jabalpur Division
Jabalpur.
Represented by : Shri Deepak Gupta, Sr.DPO/PIO
Shri Amitabh Nigam, ADRM/AA
Shri Harish Ranjan, Nodal Officer
Information Commissioner : Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
___________________________________________________________________
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/A/2011/001407
ORDER
Background
1. The RTI Application dated 23.2.11 was filed by the Applicant with the PIO, West Central Railway,
Jabalpur seeking information related to the temporary electrical connection taken by the Railways
from the Electrical Company due to the nonworking of the transformer, against three points including
the cost of the temporary connection, the period for which temporary electrical connection was taken
between January 08 and l December 2010 and copies of all bills of temporary connection which have
been taken between 2009 and December 2010. The Application was received by the PIO on
1.3.11 and point wise information which was provided by the Nodal Officer on 16.3.11 was furnished
to the Appellant on 17.3.11. The Nodal Officer stated that the information against points 1 & 3 are not
available and that the Applicant has not sought any information with regard to point 2. The Applicant
filed his first appeal on 23.3.11 in response to which the Appellate Authority provided 6 pages of
information against point 2. Not satisfied with this reply the Applicant filed his second appeal before
the Commission requesting for information against point 1 and 3.
Decision.
2. During the hearing the Respondent submitted that it was the then Nodal Officer who had informed
the Appellant that information is not available against points 1 and 3. It has since been found after a
search that the information is available in the Accounts Department. He further stated that the
information is contained in 435 pages and that it can be furnished to the Appellant.
3. The Commission after hearing the Respondent directs the PIO to provide the information to the
Appellant, against points 1 and 3 , 100 pages free of cost and to charge Rs 2/ per page for
pages beyond that number.
4. The Commission also directs the then Nodal Officer Shri Yugendra Bahagl (Sr.Divl.Electrical
Engineer) to show cause as to why a penalty should not be imposed upon him for denying the
information against points 1 and 3 to the Appellant even though the same is available with the
Accounts section, thereby obstructing the supply of information to the Appellant. The response to
this show cause notice should reach the Commission by 20th September 2011. The information to
be provided to the Appellant by 20th September 2011 after receiving the additional fee.
5. The appeal is accordingly disposed of.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy
(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar
1. Shri Ashok Kumar Jaiswal
No. 603B, Miloniganuj
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Ward
Jabalpur.
2. The Public Information Officer
West Central Railway
Divisional Railway Manager’s Office
Jabalpur Division
Jabalpur.
3. The Appellate Authority
West Central Railway
Divisional Railway Manager’s Office
Jabalpur Division
Jabalpur.
4. Officer Incharge, NIC.
In case, the Commission’s above directives have not been complied with by the Respondents, the
Appellant/Complainant may file a formal complaint with the Commission under Section 18(1) of the RTI Act, giving
(1) copy of RTI application, (2) copy of PIO’s reply, (3) copy of the decision of the first Appellant Authority, (4) copy
of the Commission’s decision, and (5) any other documents which he/she considers to be necessary for deciding
the complaint. In the prayer, the Appellant/Complainant may indicate, what information has not been provided.