Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/A/09/00421
Dated April 30, 2009
Name of the Applicant : Mr.Ashok Kumar Khanna
Name of the Public Authority : BSNL, Chandigarh
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.30.10.08 with the CPIO, BSNL,
Ludhiana. He requested for the following information:
i) What is Memorandum of Services (MoS)
ii) What is the significance of MoS
iii) How & what is the requisition of an entry in MoS
iv) What procedure is to be followed in making good/adverse entry in the
ACR vis-à-vis MoS
v) Can an entry in ACR be made without its inclusion in MoS. Separate
for good/bad i.e. adverse entry be spelled out.
vi) Is MoS a mandatory document. Who is the custodian of MoS
vii) Role of reviewing officer/reporting officer/appellate officer (I & II) vis –
a vis MoS i.r.o ACR.
The CPIO replied on 12.11.08 stating that information asked is in
questionnaire form and is of general nature and no such information is
available in documentary form. The applicant filed an appeal dt.1.12.08 with
the Appellate Authority raising following queries:
i) Query is always in questionnaire form
ii) General nature information need to be on website and also on the
book published as per Section 4 of RTI Act.
The Appellate Authority replied on 27.12.08 stating that questionnaire or for
that matter queries have to be aiming at specific information within meaning
of Section 2(f) of the Act. Aggrieved with this reply, the Applicant filed a
second appeal dt.21.3.09 before CIC.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the
hearing for April 30, 2009.
3. Mr.Arun Kumar Sharma, GM(A) & CPIO and Mr.Anoop Prasad, AD(RTI)
represented the Public Authority.
4. The Applicant was present during the hearing.
Decision
5. The Commission is of the opinion that points (i) to (iii), (iv) and (vii) do not
qualify as ‘information’ as per definition of ‘information’ given in the RTI Act.
The Commission however, directs the CPIO to provide information against
points (v), (vi) and (viii) to the Appellant by May 18, 2009.
6. The appeal is accordingly disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
(G.Subramanian)
Asst. Registrar
Cc:
1. Mr.Ashok Kumar Khanna
4520 Shivaji Nagar
Ludhiana 141 008
2. Mr.A.K.Sharma
The CPIO &
General Manager (A)
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
O/o Chief General Manager
Punjab Telecom Circle
Chandigarh
3. Mr.P.K.Paliwal
The Appellate Authority &
Chief General Manager
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
O/o Chief General Manager
Punjab Telecom Circle
Chandigarh
4. Officer in charge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC