Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/C/2010/000561
Dated July 26 , 2010
Name of the Applicants : Mr. R D Gupta
Name of the Public Authority : Northern Railway, New Delhi
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dated 01.08.2009 seeking information from the O/o the
Chief Administrative Officer/IT, IRCA Building, New Delhi seeking information as follows:
1. Investigation/action with respect to letter No. NDC R/E35/PC/9/09 dated 12.02.2009
addressed to the Sr. Divisional Comml. Manager N.R. DRM Office, Moradabad;
2. Action taken with respect to letter dated 10.04.2009;
3. Investigation/action with respect to the complaint registered by the Complainant on
28.11.2008 in the Shahjahanpur station under the Northern Railway;
4. Whether copy of the Complaint dated 02.12.2008 had been received at the office of the
Minister of Railways and if so, whether any action had been initiated in this regard?
2. The Assistant Commercial Manager (G) replied by letter dated 07.09.2009 returning the original
Postal Order since the same had been wrongly addressed to the Information officer, CAO/IT,
IRCA Building, New Delhi. The Complainant was advised to resend the same in favour of
FA&CAO, Northern Railway, Baroda House.
3. Feeling aggrieved by the response of the Public Authority, the Applicant approached the Central
Information Commission on 18.12.2009 contending that the Assistant Commercial Manager (G)
instead of returning the Postal order could have himself forwarded/redirected the same to the
correct/appropriate authority. Hence the Complainant sought appropriate action by the
Commission in this regard.
Decision
4. The case was registered in the Commission as a Complaint instead under Section 18 (1) (e) of
the RTI Act 2005. Perusal of the records of the case indicate that it is a simple case where because of
incorrect address on the Postal Order (PO), the case is yet to reach the appropriate custodian of
information. Since the PO has already been returned, therefore, the Complainant is advised to refile his
RTI application at the correct address as indicated by the Assistant Commercial Manager (G) in his
communication dated 07.09.2009. However, the Assistant Commercial Manager (G) is also warned that
such act of returning the application would be construed as shirking of his responsibility and failure to
deliver his duty as a Public officer. Therefore, the Assistant Commercial Manager (G) must act with
more diligence and in terms of the provisions of the RTI Act 2005, in future while handling RTI
applications.
5. The Complaint is disposed of on the above terms.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar
Cc:
1. Mr. R D Gupta
463Khirni Bagh
Saharanpur,
UP – 242 001
2. PIO
Northern Railway
Baroda House,
New Delhi
3. Officer incharge, NIC
4. Press E Group, CIC