CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Club Building (Near Post Office)
Old JNU Campus, New Delhi - 110067
Tel: +91-11-26161796
Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2011/000181/14024
Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2011/000181
Appellant : Mr. Ram Sagar,
C-125, J.J. Colony,
Bawana, Delhi - 110 039
Respondent : Secretary,
Department of Food Supplies & Consumer Affairs,
Govt. of NCT of Delhi,
K-Block, Vikas Bhawan, I.P. Estate,
New Delhi - 110 002
Facts
arising from the Complaint:
The Appellant has come before this Commission under section 19
(3) of the RTI act 2005, with the prayer that his RTI application dated 22/09/2010 addressed to the PIO
& AC, North West and deposited with the APIO has not been responded to till date. The Appellant did
not receive any information within the 30 day time period and therefore in right earnest approached the
First Appellate Authority vide his letter dated 27/11/2010, the First Appellate Authority vide its order
dated 21/12/2010 took due cognizance of the matter and directed the Respondent PIO to inquire into the
allegations of the Appellant, further directing the Appellant to meet the PIO at his office. The Appellant
further stated that till date no information has been provided to him.
During the intervening period the Appellant through an application dated 28/1/2011 approached the
Commission seeking immediate intervention in the matter. The Appellant has contented that the
information asked by him deals with the issue of Biometric Ration cards being issued by the Respondent
Public Authority. He has alleged he had deposited his BPL Ration Card under receipt no. 406579 and
vide application no. 360605 on 22/11/2007 at the F.S.O Circle – 07, for renewal and thereafter for two
years he visited the said office, but to no avail. Subsequently he learnt from the website of the
department that his card had been renewed and a Biometric Ration card had been issued with BPL Card
No. 22640065 on his name and address. He then filed a formal complaint with the department in this
regard and thereafter sought information on it under the RTI act 2005. He has contended that two
masked men knocked on his door on 22/1/2011 at 2230hrs and threatened to end his life if he made any
further headway in this matter.
Interim Decision announced on 29/01/2011:
The Commission has taken this matter with utmost seriousness. There have been numerous instances of
RTI applicants being threatened, attacked and murdered. The Commission is therefore issuing an
interim order in this matter.
The Commission must act as Parens Patrice in such matters so as to protect the citizen’s right to
information, and remove any hindrances that may be faced in the exercise of such a right.
Therefore, the Commission taking cognizance of the issue hereby initiates an inquiry in this matter
under the powers vested in it by Section 18 (2) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
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The Commission hereby directs the Secretary, Department of Food Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Govt.
of NCT of Delhi, to inquire into the allegations of the Appellant that Biometric cards are being issued
fraudulently. The Secretary shall submit the inquiry report to this Commission by 10th March 2011. The
Secretary is also directed to issue necessary directions to the concerned Assistant Commissioner, F.S.O
and any other officials connected with this matter to ensure that the Appellant is not intimidated in any
manner.
Note:
The inquiry report has been received in which it is stated that during this period no ration or
kerosene has been distributed on the ration card of the Appellant during the period January 2010
to November 2010. Hence it has been decided to schedule a hearing in the matter.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The following were present
Complainant: Absent;
Respondent: Mr. Anand Kumar Baraik, FSO(C-7) Bawana;
The respondent states that the ration card of the complainant has been provided. It appears that
the information had been provided and the complainant grievance has also been resolved.
Decision:
The complaint is disposed.
This decision is announced in open chamber.
Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties.
Any information in compliance with this Order will be provided free of cost as per Section 7(6) of RTI Act.
Shailesh Gandhi
Information Commissioner
11 August 2011
(In any correspondence on this decision, mention the complete decision number. (JS))
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