In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/A/2011/000877
Date of Hearing : May 27, 2011
Date of Decision : May 27, 2011
Parties:
Appellant
Mr. Ramphool Meena
S/o Shri Bhauri Ram
Near TV tower, Mukam Post,
Bassi, Distt : Jaipur
Represented by : The Applicant was not present for the hearing.
Respondent
1. The Public Information Officer,
North Western Railway,
Headquarter office,
Hasanpura Road,
Jaipur
2. The Appellate Authority,
North Western Railway,
Headquarter office,
Hasanpura Road,
Jaipur
Represented by : Mr. Subhash Rawat, PIO
Mr. Ajay Kumar Sharma, OS/C/NWR/JP
Mr. Tej Singh, N/Clerk
Mr. M K Sharma, APIO
Present at the Commission for the hearing
Information Commissioner : Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
_______________________________________________________________
Decision Notice
As given in the decision.
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/A/2011/000877
ORDER
Background:
1. The Applicant filed an RTI request dt.21.10.10 with the PIO, North Western Railway requesting for a copy
of a duty pass which had been issued to him by the Superintending Engineer (Construction), NorthWestern Railway for use from Jodhpur to Samdadi Jn. for the period 5.3.99 to 14.3.99. He also requested
for a copy of a letter dt.18.3.99 by which the public authority had authorized him to be present at an
informal Union meeting. The Applicant also wanted to know what action was taken on the notices sent by
his Adv. Mr. Ganesh Meena to the public authority. The PIO replied on 8.11.10 stating that the information
requested in points nos. 1 and 2 is a very old record and hence, not available for reference. As for point
no.3, the PIO gave detailed information and also provided a copy of the required document. Not satisfied
with the information, the Applicant filed a first appeal dt 22.11.10 with the Appellate Authority. The
Appellate Authority replied on 29.1210, upholding the PIO’s decision. Being aggrieved with this reply, the
Applicant filed a second appeal dt.4.3.11, reiterating his request for the information.
Decision
2. During the hearing, the Respondent submitted that in response to another RTI application (which was
registered with them against no.4126), the Appellant has already been informed that on checking all the
counterfoils in the passbooks, it was noted that nowhere has it been recorded that a duty pass for the
specified time period (from 5.3.99 to 14.3.99) was issued in the name of the Appellant. This information
was provided to him on 20.10.10 by the Nodal Officer, North Western Railway. Hence it is clear that the
matter pertaining to information requested against item no.1 has been settled.
3. As for the information sought in point no.2, the Respondent submitted that no such letter was issued to the
Appellant on 18.3.99. However, a letter on the said matter was indeed issued on 8.3.99 giving a list of the
staff who could attend the Union meeting. He pointed out that the Appellant’s name is not included in
that list. The Respondent produced the original letter before the Commission. It was noted by the
Commission that one name had been scratched out from the list. However, close examination of the letter
revealed that the scratched name was not that of the Appellant. The Respondents are hereby directed to
provide an attested copy of this letter to the Appellant.
4. With regard to point no.3, the Respondents submitted that the Appellant has already inspected all the
records pertaining to his case at least three times and that he has already been provided copies of all the
relevant documents. Since the Appellant has already inspected all the relevant documents the
Commission holds that there is no further information available with the Public Authority which can be
authorized to be disclosed. The matter concerning point no.3 therefore is considered as settled.
5. It is noted that the Respondents have already replied to the Advocate’s letters, copies of which were
produced before the Commission. Copies of these letter/s may be furnished to the Appellant. At this stage
the Respondents pointed out that when contacted by the Public Authority, Advocate Shri Ganesh Meena
had denied having written some of the letters which the Appellant has claimed to have been written by the
Advocate.
6. The Commission holds that adequate information has been provided. Information as already decided by
the Commission in paras hereinabove may be furnished to the Appellant by 25 June, 2011.
7. The appeal is accordingly disposed of.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy
(G.Subramanian) Deputy
Registrar
Cc:
1. Mr. Ramphool Meena
S/o Shri Bhauri Ram
Near TV tower, Mukam Post,
Bassi, Distt : Jaipur
2. The Public Information Officer,
North Western Railway,
Headquarter office,
Hasanpura Road,
Jaipur
3. The Appellate Authority,
North Western Railway,
Headquarter office,
Hasanpura Road,
Jaipur
4. Officer in Charge, NIC