Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/WB/A/2009/000843SM
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 3 January 2011
Date of decision : 3 January 2011
Name of the Appellant : Shri Mohan Swarup Bhatia
Gyan Deep, Govardhan Road,
Mathura, U.P.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, President's Secretariat,
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
New Delhi - 110 004.
The Appellant was not present in spite of notice.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri J.G. Subramanian, APIO/Under
Secretary was present.
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
Elements of the decision:
Section 8(1) (j)
2. In spite of notice, the Appellant was not present. The Respondent was
present and made his submissions.
3. The Appellant had sought several information regarding the functioning
CIC/WB/A/2009/000843SM
of the Rashtrapati Bhavan including the number of employees working there,
category wise, the expenditure on their salary et cetera, the annual expenditure
on the maintenance of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the salary and the allowances
paid to the President in the month of January 2008 and the expenditure
incurred under several heads during that month, including the expenditure on
her meals. The CPIO had provided detailed information on most of the queries
except (a) relating to the expenditure incurred by the President herself on her
meals by claiming exemption under Section 8(1) (j) of the Right to Information
(RTI) Act and (b) one relating to the official travels of the President claiming that
the disclosure of further details in this regard was not in the interest of security.
The Appellate Authority had endorsed the decision of the CPIO.
4. We carefully considered the contents of the RTI application. In the
second appeal, the Appellant has specifically sought information regarding his
fifth query, namely, about the expenditure incurred by the President in the
month of January on her meals, medical treatment and travels. The CPIO had
clarified that no information regarding the expenditure on the medical treatment
of the President was being maintained and, therefore, such information could
not be disclosed. In regard to the expenditure on the meals which she herself
incurs, obviously, no information is available in the Secretariat. Finally, as far as
her official travels are concerned, the CPIO had stated that the expenditure on
this head was being met by the Defence Ministry and the State Government
concerned and that no further details could be disclosed for security reasons.
We tend to agree with the decision of the CPIO.
5. Thus, there is nothing more to be disclosed by way of information in this
case. The appeal is disposed off accordingly.
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6. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Chief Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied against
application and payment of the charges prescribed under the Act to the CPIO of this
Commission.
(Vijay Bhalla)
Assistant Registrar
CIC/WB/A/2009/000843SM