Central Information Commission Judgements

Mr.S N Srivastava vs Ministry Of Railways on 29 September, 2011

Central Information Commission
Mr.S N Srivastava vs Ministry Of Railways on 29 September, 2011
                       In the Central Information Commission 
                                                     at
                                                 New Delhi

                                                                File No: CIC/AD/C/2011/000619




Date  of Hearing :  September 29, 2011

Date of Decision :  September 29, 2011


Parties:

           Applicant

           Shri S.N.Srivstava
           J­422 Indralok Colony
           Kanpur Road
           Lucknow
           Uttar Pradesh

           The Applicant was present at NIC Studio, Lucknow


           Respondents

           North Eastern Railway
           Divisional Railway Manager's Office
           Lucknow Division
           Lucknow



           Represented by : Shri R.P.Singh, PIO & Sr.EDPM
                                     Shri Shivshankar, ADFM
                                     ­ NIC Studio, Lucknow




                   Information Commissioner     :   Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
___________________________________________________________________
                       In the Central Information Commission 
                                                            at
                                                    New Delhi
                                                                                         File No: CIC/AD/C/2011/000619
                                                         ORDER

Background

1. The Applicant filed an RTI Application dt.17.8.10 with the PIO, DRM Office, North Eastern Railway, 

Lucknow seeking information about the no. of employees from whose salary income tax has been 

deducted   for   the  year   2009­2010,  the  total  amount  deducted  and  the  Head  under  which  it   was 

deposited etc.  He also sought information about the amount deposited under TDS and the date of 

deposit by cheque/DD including the Branch & the bank name.  The PIO replied on 20.9.10 denying 

the   information  u/s  8(1)(j)   of   the RTI  Act.    Being  aggrieved with the reply, the Applicant  filed  a 

complaint dt.19.2.11 before CIC reiterating his request for the information.

Decision

2. The Commission on perusal of the submissions on record and after hearing both sides holds that the 

information   sought   is   indeed   disclosable,       after   observing   that   the   Appellant   is   not   seeking 

information about individuals nor even about  monthly deductions/deposits but about the total amount 

at the end of the year. The PIO is therefore directed to provide information about total number of 

employees and about total amount of TDS deposited in the month of January  etc.  Information may 

be provided by 29.10.11.

3. As   far   as   the   Complainant’s   complaint   about   non­supply   of   information   by   the   PIO   within   the 

stipulated   time   period   is   concerned,  it   was  noted  that  the  PIO  had  replied  on  20.9.10  and  that 

information   was   denied   u/s   8(1)(j)  since  he   felt   that  information   sought  relates  to   tax  details  of 

individual employees and hence is exempt from disclosure.   The Commission therefore holds that 

there does not seem to be any deliberate attempt to deny the information and accordingly sets aside 

the Complainant’s complaint.

4. The complaint is disposed of with the above directions.

 (Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy 

(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar

Cc:

1. Shri S.N.Srivstava
J­422 Indralok Colony
Kanpur Road
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh

2. The Public Information Officer
North Eastern Railway
Divisional Railway Manager’s Office
Lucknow Division
Lucknow

3. Officer in charge, NIC
Note:   In   case,   the   Commission’s   above   directives   have   not   been   complied   with   by   the   Respondents,   the 
Appellant/Complainant may file a formal complaint with the Commission under Section 18(1) of the RTI­Act, giving 
(1) copy of RTI­application, (2) copy of the Commission’s decision, and (3) any other documents which he/she 
considers to be necessary for deciding the complaint. In the prayer, the Appellant/Complainant may indicate, what 
information has not been provided.