Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/SM/A/2010/001062
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 30 May 2011
Date of decision : 30 May 2011
Name of the Appellant : Shri Ramesh Babubhai Patel
601/A, Devraj Tower,
Nr. Judges Bunglows Crossing,
Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380 054.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Union Bank of India,
Field General Manager's Office,
Prem Chand House, 172/1,
Ashram Road, Ahmedabad - 380 009.
The Appellant was not present in spite of notice.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri Subhendu Howaldar was present.
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
2. Heard this case through video conferencing. The Appellant did not turn
up in the Ahmedabad studio of the NIC in spite of notice. The Respondent was
present there and made his submissions.
3. The Appellant had wanted two items of information, namely, (a) the date
of joining of Sri HN Mehta as branch manager at Jodhpur branch and the date
of his leaving the Bank as Branch Manager and (b) several details about the
CIC/SM/A/2010/001062
saving bank accounts opened/closed by him during his tenure as branch
manager. Although the CPIO had provided the information regarding Sri Mehta,
he had refused to provide the details about the savings bank accounts. The
Appellate Authority had also endorsed the decision of the CPIO.
4. During the hearing, the Respondent submitted that the details about the
savings bank accounts were held by the bank in commercial confidence and
could not be disclosed ordinarily. We tend to agree with this view. Obviously,
the details about the savings bank accounts of other customers cannot be
disclosed to the Appellant as none of the account holders has authorised him to
obtain such information about their accounts. Besides, the Appellant has not
made out how any larger public interest would be served by disclosing the
commercial confidence inherent in the savings bank accounts of other
customers of the bank. Section 8(1) (d) of the Right to Information Act exempts
such information from disclosure.
5. The appeal has, thus, no merit and is, therefore, disallowed.
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)
CIC/SM/A/2010/001062
Deputy Registrar
CIC/SM/A/2010/001062