Central Information Commission Judgements

Mr.Dharam Dass Chawla vs Mcd, Gnct Delhi on 8 November, 2011

Central Information Commission
Mr.Dharam Dass Chawla vs Mcd, Gnct Delhi on 8 November, 2011
                        CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
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                          Old JNU Campus, New Delhi - 110067
                                 Tel: +91-11-26161796

                                                             Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2011/002331/15498
                                                                     Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2011/002331
Relevant facts emerging from the Appeal:

Appellant                            :       Mr. Dharam Dass Chawla
                                             7966, Arakasha Road,
                                             Pahar Ganj, New Delhi - 110055

Respondent                           :       Mr. V. R. Bansal
                                             PIO & SE
                                             Municipal Corporation of Delhi
                                             O/o The Superintending Engineer (Bldg.),
                                             Sadar Pahar Ganj Zone, Idgah Road,
                                             Delhi - 110006

RTI application filed on             :       10/05/2011
PIO replied on                       :       22/06/2011
First Appeal filed on                :       12/07/2011
First Appellate Authority order of   :       Not Mentioned
Second Appeal received on            :       26/08/2011

The information sought: The Appellant asked regarding action report of illegal demolished on Plot
No. 7964-7965 Aarakasha Road Pahar Ganj New Delhi after order. The required information as
under:
1.           Please provide the name, designation, presently posting place, and all particulars of the said
       officials. Provide the action taken report by the concern officials.
             Whether the above property related to demolition on 11-08-2011. Department can't do any
thing
       because there is not Police force for support. Provide the complaint/FIR copy of the same.
3.           Due to shortage of the time the concern official can not do any thing in respect of the same
       property. Pl. provide the name, designation and action taken report.
             What was the reason for 15th month delay for making schedule in respect of action taken.
             Provide the reason for not taking/issuing any action /order after 25th Months by the
department.
             Provide the name, designation of responsible schedule holder officials after the issued order.
7.           Provide the action taken report/information of guilty officials in respect of not taking any
       action on above property under the section 343 of MCD.
8.           If building is not demolished by the department after the passing MCD order. What are the
       department dead lines for demolishing/sealing said property by the department provide the
       information.
9.           Department can give permission for commercialization in illegal building if not, in which
       section permission can be given. Pl. provide the action taken such using illegal building for
       commercial purpose.

The PIO reply:
1.    lr sought by the applicant through this point is that no daily ATR of the officials of this office is
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        available in this office however on 29.012007 Sh. Kapil Garg the then J.E.(B) had taken action on
       ongoing properties in the area, on 28.05.2008 Sh. S.A. Niyazi the then WE. (B) . had take action
       on P.No, BB Ahoka Basti, Nabi Karim at IIIrd floor one room exist which is completely
       demolished also one wall near stair case has been removed, Darpan Hotel, Arakasha Road at lVth
       floor two rooms one toilet/bath has been demolished completely, 10394, Multani Dhanda, Pahar
       Ganj at lllrd floor root of the room completely dismantled/removed, on 23.07.2008, Sh. Naveen
       the then J.E. (B) had take action on P.No. 7409, Arakasha Road, Pahar Ganj, Near Dharam Kata,
       Vandana Hotel. New Delhi, one temporary wooden room at 1st floor was permanently removed,
       on 27.01.2009 Sh. Purshotam Meena the then J.E. (B) had take action on P.No. BB-350, Ahoka
       Basti, Nabi Karim in the shape roof of room is demolished completely at llnd floor, 6455, Factory
       Road, Nabi Karim in the shape roof of a hall is demolished partly at IInd floor.
2.     Information sought by the applicant through this point is that the demolition programme is fixed
       as per routine programme,
3.     Information sought by the applicant through this point is that on 21.02.2007 Sh. Kapil Garg the
       then J.E (B) had take action, on 27.02.2007 no demolition programme taken by this
       department/office or no demolition programme fixed by this office on the above said date, no
       daily ATR is available of the officials of this office and no such info is available with this office
       about the present posting of the then officials.
4.     Information sought by the applicant through this point is that demolition programme had fixed as
       per scheduled programme or as per policy of the department.
5.     Information sought by the applicant though this point is that as per available record no such
       information is available with this office.
6.     Information sought by the applicant through this point is that the demolition programme is
       scheduled for every month by the Ex. Engineer of this office.
7.     Information sought by the applicant through this point is mat demolition programme has been
       taken by the official as per policy of the department.
8.     Information sought by the applicant through this point is that the demolition/sealing action taken
       as per policy of the department
9.     Information sought by the applicant through this point is that no commercial activity has been
       allowed/granted by this office, for commercial activity sealing action against the property has
       been initiate under section 345A of
       DM0 Act for misuse

Grounds for the First Appeal:
The appellant was received an unsatisfactory reply from the PIO.

Order of the First Appellate Authority (FAA):
Not mentioned.

Ground of the Second Appeal:
The applicant is not satisfied with the PIO reply and unsatisfactory order was passed by the First
Appellate Authority.

Relevant Facts

emerging during Hearing:

The following were present:

Appellant: Mr. Dharam Dass Chawla;

Respondent: Mr. Manoj Kumar, EE on behalf of Mr. V. R. Bansal, PIO & SE;

The respondent has produced a letter before the Commission in which the PIO/SE(SPZ) has issued
a memo to EE(B) SPZ & Deemed PIO on 17/10/2011 for failing to provide the revised information on
points 1, 2 & 4 to the Appellant as per the order of the FAA, DC(SPZ) on 02/09/2011. In the said memo
the SE has threatened disciplinary action against the deemed PIO. In response to this the present Deemed

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PIO Mr. Manoj Kumar has brought the information today which has been handed over to the Appellant
today. Mr. Manoj Kumar states that the FAA’s order was received by the then Deemed PIO/EE(B) Mr. S.
K. Aggarwal.

Decision:

The Appeal is allowed.

The PIO is now directed to provide the information as available on the records on
queries 7, 8 & 9 to the Appellant before 30 November 2011.

The issue before the Commission is of not supplying the complete, required information by the then
Deemed PIO/EE(B) Mr. S. K. Aggarwal within 30 days as required by the law.
From the facts before the Commission it appears that the then deemed PIO is guilty of not furnishing
complete information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of Section 7 as per the requirement
of the RTI Act. He has further refused to obey the orders of his superior officer. The First Appellate
Authority has clearly ordered the information to be given. It appears that the PIO’s actions attract the
penal provisions of Section 20 (1). A showcause notice is being issued to him, and he is directed give his
reasons to the Commission to show cause why penalty should not be levied on him.

Mr. S. K. Aggarwal the then Deemed PIO/EE(B) will present himself before the Commission at the above
address on 05 December 2011 at 12.30pm alongwith his written submissions showing cause why penalty
should not be imposed on him as mandated under Section 20 (1).

If there are other persons responsible for the delay in providing the information to the Appellant the
PIO is directed to inform such persons of the show cause hearing and direct them to appear before the
Commission with him. If no other responsible persons are brought by the persons asked to showcause
hearing, it will be presumed that they are the responsible persons.

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
08 November 2011
(In any correspondence on this decision, mention the complete decision number. (BK))

Copy through Mr. Manoj Kumar, EE to:

          1-         Mr. S. K. Aggarwal the then Deemed PIO/EE(B);




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