Central Information Commission
RC/UG/09/F728NLYM
Dated March 2, 2009
Name of the Applicant : Mr. Mohd. Abdul Gaffar
Name of the Public Authority : Ministry of External Affairs, GOI
Background
1. The Applicant, Mr. Mohammad Abdul Gaffar, filed an RTI application under
Right to Information Act, 2005, with the CPIO, Prime Minister’s Office on
29.1.08 stating that he had suffered during the Gulf War and as a result has
a hearing problem and that he has not received the compensation that was
due to him as a Gulf War victim, from the 25 to 30 Million Dollars allocated by
the United Nations Compensation Commission for missing Indian victims. He
stated that the Special Kuwait Cell, Ministry of External Affairs is returning
the unutilized funds to the UNCC without paying the compensation that he is
entitled to. He requested the CPIO, PMO to take his case up with the Ministry
of External Affairs, GOI. Subsequently, the Applicant wrote several letters to
the Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary and to other senior Government
officials in the Ministry of External Affairs requesting them to look into the
matter. On 25.2.09 Mr. Gaffar also wrote to Dean(FSI) & Appellate Authority
(RTI), MEA reiterating his request for payment of compensation to him as a
Gulf War victim. He then sent a request (appeal) to the Central Information
Commission on 12.2.09 stating that millions of Dollars are being returned to
the United Nations Compensation Commission by the SKC, without taking
permission from higher authorities.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the
hearing on March 3, 2009.
3. The Respondents were not present .
4. The Appellant was present for the hearing.
Decision
5. It is evident from Additional Secretary , Ms. Sarita Bali’s letter dated
December 18, 2008, that efforts are being made by the MEA to settle the long
pending matter related to payment of compensation to Mr. Gaffar. As per the
contents of Ms. Bali’s letter, she has discussed the matter with the Foreign
Secretary who has approved her request that Mr. Gaffar’s case be taken up
with the UNCC Governing Council in April 2009. The Commission noted that
Ms. Bali has assured Mr. Gaffar that the Governing Council would be
requested to refer the matter to the UN Security Council for relaxation of
rules and that she would inform him about the position in April 2009.
6. The Commission is of the opinion that Mr. Gaffar has already been provided
with information that he is seeking and that it(the Commission) has no
further role to play with regard to payment of compensation to him.
7. The appeal is disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
(K.G.Nair)
Designated Officer
Cc:
Mr. AMohd. Abdul Gaffar
H.No. 8-4-549/117
Netaji Nagar
Opp. A.G. Colony, Erraguda
Hyderabad 50018
AP
The CPIO -RTI
Ministry of External Affairs
South Block
New Delhi
The Appellate Authority-RTI
Ministry of External Affairs
South Block
New Delhi
Officer in charge, NIC
Press E Group, CIC