CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Room No. 415, 4th Floor,
Block IV, Old JNU Campus,
New Delhi - 110067.
Tel: + 91 11 26161796
Decision No. CIC /SG/C/2008/00253/2001
Complaint No. CIC/SG/C/2008/00253
Complainant : Mr. Jai Prakash Singh
Daily News Activist, Tulsiani Plaza, 2nd Floor,
118A, MG Marg, Civil Lines,
Allahabad -271001, Uttar Pradesh.
Respondent : Public Information Officer
Joint Secretary,
University Grants Commission,
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi -110002.
Facts
arising from the Complaint:
Mr. Jai Prakash Singh had filed an RTI application with the PIO, University Grants
Commission, New Delhi on 11/09/2008 asking for certain information. Since no reply was
received within the mandated time of 30 days, he had filed a complaint under Section 18 to
the Commission. The Commission issued a notice to the PIO on 27/12/2008 asking him to
supply the information and sought an explanation for not furnishing the information within
the mandated time.
The Commission has neither received a copy of the information sent to the
complainant, nor has it received any explanation from the PIO for not supplying the
information to the complainant. Therefore, the only presumption that can be derived is that
the PIO has deliberately and without any reasonable cause refused to give information as per
the provisions of the RTI Act. His failure to respond to the Commission’s notice shows that
he has no reasons for the refusal of information.
Decision:
The Complaint is allowed.
The PIO will send the complete information to the complainant before March 20,
2009. The PIO’s action clearly amounts to denial of information without any reasons. The
PIO is therefore, asked to submit a written explanation showing cause as to why penalty
should not be imposed and disciplinary action be recommended against him under Section 20
(1) of the RTI Act by March 25, 2009.
Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties.
Shailesh Gandhi
Information Commissioner
February 24, 2009.