Central Information Commission Judgements

Mr. Dharambir Singh vs Sdm, Govt Of Nct Of Delhi on 21 August, 2009

Central Information Commission
Mr. Dharambir Singh vs Sdm, Govt Of Nct Of Delhi on 21 August, 2009
                   CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
                    Club Building, Opposite Ber Sarai Market,
                      Old JNU Campus, New Delhi - 110067.
                              Tel: +91-11-26161796

                                                   Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2009/001612/4519
                                                          Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2009/001612

Appellant                                  : Mr. Dharambir Singh,
                                             House No. 434, Village &
                                             Post - Bankher, Narela,
                                             Delhi - 110040

Respondent                                  : Mr. Kunal
                                              Public Information Officer,
                                              SDM, Govt of NCT of Delhi
                                              O/o SDM, Narela at Alipur,
                                              North West District, Delhi-110038

RTI application filed on                   :       03/02/2009
PIO replied                                :       28/02/2009
First Appeal filed on                      :       03/03/2009
First Appellate Authority order            :       16/04/2009
Second Appeal received on                  :       03/07/2009

  Sl.                 Information Sought                                PIO's reply
1.      The name and designation of the investigating Gram Sevak Sri Rajpal Singh and Sri
        officer of the tube well and the attested Mahendra pal Singh , Agriculture
        photocopy of the report.                         Development Officer and the copy of
                                                         the report is enclosed.
2.      The name of the concerned Area Supervisor As given above.
        and the name of the supervisor who has
        forwarded the investigation report.
3.      The attested photocopy of the affidavit, which Contact NDPL office Narela for NOC
        contains signature of all the account-holders and        Contact      Delhi      Municipal
        regarding NOC, attested photocopies of all the Corporation for the deceased account
        account holders, information regarding whether holders.
        the Death Certificates are submitted in original
        or in the form of photocopy.
4.      Attested Photocopy of the NOC of Tube well Copy of Letter/ NOC dated 10/06/2008
        A.P. written to the Manager NDPL Narela is enclosed.
        dated 10/06/2008.
5.      Attested photocopy of the letter NOC with- Photocopy is enclosed.
        drawn dated 08/10/2008 written to the Manager
        NDPL.
6.      Attested photocopy of the letter dated Copy of letter is enclosed and the
        05/12/2008/1513 written to the Manager NDPL circumstances in which the letter was
        and the attested photocopy of all the Notings of written were given in the letter.
        this letter regarding the evidences shown
         whether the letter was written under the undue
        influences.
7.      Attested photocopy of the Noting of the reason      In this regard the discussion between
        for the delay in the final decision from            Deputy Commissioner level and this
        05/12/2008 to 02/02/2009, the same should be        office is on hold.
        sent to the Deputy Commissioner.
8.      Attested photocopy of the enclosed Khata            It is related to Patwari.
        Khatauni No. 162/121.
9.      The names of the account holders, who has not       It is related to NDPL Narela office.
        signed/ given thumb impression on the enclosed
        affidavit and the Khata Khatauni.
10.     The Deputy Commissioner has sent you for the        In this regard the discussion between
        re-investigation on 11/12/2008, have you re-        Deputy Commissioner level and this
        investigated? If yes then the attested photocopy    office is on hold.
        of the final report and if no the what is the
        reason?
11.     What is the evidence, on the basis of that you      It is informed to the NDPL on the basis
        have cancelled the letter dated 08/10/2008 and      of your letter Dated 08/10/2008 that the
        have ordered to maintain status-quo on the          NOC of this office dated 10/06/2008
        letter dated 10/06/2008.                            may be treated as drawn till the proper
                                                            NOC from other co-sharers is submitted
                                                            by the applicant, copy of letter enclosed.

Grounds for First Appeal:
Points no. 3 and 7 to 11 given in the reply of PIO are unsatisfactory and incomplete.

Order of the First Appellate Authority:
It is found that the reply given by PIO is satisfactory. Hence, Appeal dismissed.

Grounds for Second Appeal:
Points no. 3 and 7 to 11 given in the reply of PIO are unsatisfactory and incomplete.

Relevant Facts

emerging during Hearing:

The following were present:

Appellant: Mr. Dharambir Singh
Respondent: Mr. Deepak on behalf of PIO Mr. Kunal
The PIO will give the following information to the Appellant which has not been given earlier:
1- Query 3- Copy of the affidavit by the Co-sharer.
2- Query 7- Copy of notings and correspondence with decision taken if any on file
regarding whether the NOC was issued correctly or not.
3- Query 8- Copy of the Khata & Khatauni of Serial no. 162/121.
4- Query 10- If any enquiry has been made into the matter a copy of the report including
the file notings.

5- Query 11- Letters and notings evidencing the basis on which the first NOC was
given, then withdrawn and then kept in abeyance.

The PIO was asked why the entire information had not been given initially. He states that the
person responsible for giving information late is BDO Mr. Hans Raj Singh, BDO Office
Complex, Alipur, New Delhi.

The First Appellate Authority Mr. Madhup Vyas has also failed to discharge his duty with any
responsibility.

Decision:

The appeal is allowed.

The PIO will give the information mentioned above to the Appellant before 10 September 2009.

The issue before the Commission is of not supplying the complete, required information by
the PIO within 30 days as required by the law.
From the facts before the Commission it is apparent that the deemed PIO Mr. Hans Raj Singh is
guilty of not furnishing information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of Section 7
by not replying within 30 days, as per the requirement of the RTI Act. 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.

He will present himself before the Commission at the above address on 14 September 2009 at
10.30am alongwith his written submissions showing cause why penalty should not be imposed
on him as mandated under Section 20 (1). He will also submit proof of having given the
information to the appellant.

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
21 August 2009
(In any correspondence on this decision, mention the complete decision number.)RA

CC:

Mr. Hans Raj Singh
BDO
BDO Office Complex,
Alipur, New Delhi.