Central Information Commission
Room No. 305 BWing, August Kranti Bhawan,
Bhikaji Kama Place, New Delhi - 110066
Tel No: 26167931
Case No. CIC/SS/A/2011/000777
Name of the Appellant : Sh. M. Irudhayaraj
(The Appellant was not present)
Name of the Public Authority : Ministry of Law and Justice
Represented by Shri Nirmal Singh, CPIO,
Shri O.P. Bagri, CAPIO and Shri Jagdish
Kumar, S.O.
The matter was heard on : 18.8.2011 (The matter was reserved for
order)
ORDER
Sh. M. Irudhayaraj, the Appellant, vide his RTI application dated 14.1.2011 sought
information on the particulars of applications for appointment of Notary from 1.1.2008 to
13.1.2011 received from Coimbatore District and how many applicants were appointed as
Notary Advocates and how many applications were rejected by Supra and Notary Cell,
Department of Legal Affairs.
The Appellant was replied to by CPIO, Department of Legal Affairs on the basis of
information furnished by the Notary Cell, vide letter dated 24.1.2011 which was as under:
“I am to refer to your letter dated 14.1.2011 (received on 19.1.2011) on the subject
mentioned above and to say that the Notary Cell of this Department has informed that the
information is denied under section 7(9) of the RTI Act, 2005 as it will divert the resources
of this Department.”
Aggrieved with the reply, the Appellant filed an appeal before Shri M.A. Khan
Yusufi, Joint Secretary and First Appellate Authority. The First Appellate Authority vide his
order dated 10.3.2011 concurred with the plea taken by the CPIO in the matter.
Aggrieved with the reply of the FAA, the Appellant has filed the present appeal before this
Commission in which he seeks direction of the Commission to the Respondent to furnish
the requisite information to him on the grounds that information requested are simple
figures that are available on record and this information will not divert the resources of the
Deptt.
During the hearing the CPIO submitted that large number of applications are
received for appointment as Notary Advocates and compilation of the information
requested by the Appellant disproportionately divert the resources of the Deptt.
After hearing the Respondents and on perusal of the relevant documents on file,
the Commission is of the view that particulars of appointments of Notary Advocate in
Coimbatore District from 1.1.2008 to 13.1.2011 should be available with the Department of
Legal Affairs. Therefore, the Commission directs the Respondent CPIO to provide
information on number applicants appointed as Notary Advocate in Coimbatore from
1.1.2008 to 13.1.201 within 2 weeks of receipt of Commission’s order. In respect of
remaining information requested by the Appellant, the Commission upholds the decision of
the Respondent.
With these observations/directions the matter is disposed of on the part of the
Commission.
(Sushma Singh)
Information Commissioner
12.9.2011
Authenticated true copy
(K. K. Sharma)
OSD & Dy. Registrar
Copy to:
1. Shri M. Irudhayaraj, Advocate,
Gracin Cottage,
18A, K.R.K. Nagar,
Veerakeralam,
Coimbatore641007.
2. The C.P.I.O.
Ministry of Law and Justice,
Deptt. of Legal Affairs,
Implementation Cell,
Shastri Bhawan,
New Delhi.
3. The First Appellate Authority,
Shri M.A. Khan Yusufi,
Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Law and Justice,
Deptt. of Legal Affairs,
Shastri Bhawan,
New Delhi.