Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/C/09/00197
Dated April 23, 2009
Name of the Applicant : Mr.Sant Bhushan
Name of the Public Authority : MTNL, New Delhi
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.3.9.08 with the CPIO, MTNL, New
Delhi. He requested for the following information:
i) To supply a list in respect of 118 officers upgraded under IDA scale
from E3 to E4 under Time Bound Executive Promotion Policy vide AGM (A-I)
HQ letter dt.24.8.08 in the format provided by him.
ii) To furnish the following information i.r.o Shri A.K.Kapoor, GO-180233
and V.P.Bhardwaj, GO-89875
a) Date of promotion as JAO
b) Pay scale and basic pay prior promotion to JAO
c) Pay fixation as JAO with pay scale
d) Date of officiating as AAO with basic pay and scale of pay
e) Date of substantive promotion as AAO with basic pay and scale
of pay.
f) Pay fixed as on 1.10.2000 in IDA scale
g) Date of officiating as AO with pay scale and basic pay
h) Date of substantive promotion as AO with pay scale and basic
pay.
The CPIO replied on 30.9.08 providing part reply and denying information
with regard to point (ii) (b,c & f) u/s 8(1)(j)and stating that reply for the
remaining points will be furnished after receipt of the same from concerned
units. Not satisfied with the reply, the applicant filed a complaint dt.2.3.09
before CIC.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the
hearing for April 23, 2009.
3. Mr.Rajiv Sinha, DGM(OP) HQ & CPIO, Mr.Harbhagwan, AGM representing
Appellate Authority, Mr.K.A.sharma, Mr.S.K.Bhatia and Mr.madan Gopal
represented the Public Authority.
4. The Applicant was present during the hearing during the hearing.
Decision
5. The Complainant stated that he received all information except that against
points b, c and f , The Respondent submitted that the information against the
three points is about basic pay and pay fixation which is personal information
and does not exist in the public domain but exists only in the service book of
the individual. The information was, therefore , denied under section 8(1)(j)
of the RTI Act. He also brought to the attention of the Commission the CIC
Decision No.1326 dt.10.10.07, given in response to a similar RTI application,
stating that this being personal information it should not be disclosed. The
Complainant stated that he needs the information because a colleague junior
to him is receiving more pay than him. After hearing both sides, the
Commission denies disclosure of information to the Complainant u/s 8(1)(j)
with respect to points (b,c &f) since the disclosure of this information has no
relationship with any public activity or interest and the Complainant is seeking
the same to settle his own grievance.
6. The appeal is accordingly rejected.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
(G.Subramanian)
Asst. Registrar
Cc:
1. Mr.Sant Bhushan
Dy. Manager (Finance-IT-CSMS)
O/o GM (IT)
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
Room No.716, 7th Floor
Bhikaji Cama Place
New Delhi 110 066
2. The CPIO &
General Manager (OP)
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
O/o Executive Director Telephones
K.L.Bhawan, Janpath
New Delhi 110 050
3. Officer in charge, NIC
4. Press E Group, CIC