In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/A/2011/001084
Date of Hearing : August 2, 2011
Date of Decision : August 2, 2011
Parties:
Applicant
Shri Satya Prakash Mishra
Advocate
R/o Sector K.B - 1/55, Aliganj
Lucknow.
Applicant was heard through Audio.
Respondent(s)
Ministry of Railway
ED(PG) & PIO
Railway Board
Rail Bhawan
New Delhi.
Represented by : Shri Deomani, Dy CCM/C, Northern Railway
Shri Kranti Kumar, Deemed PIO, Railway Board
Shri Dandeswar Thakuria, N F Railway
Ms T R Roaz, S Rly
Shri Ramjayam, S C Rly
Shri Bhattacharjee, Eastern Rly
Shri Vinod K Samuel, APIO, Rly Board.
Information Commissioner : Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
___________________________________________________________________
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/A/2011/001084
ORDER
Background
1. The RTI Application dated 30.11.2010 was filed by the Applicant with the PIO, Ministry of Railways,
Rail Bhawan, New Delhi seeking information related to the compensation to be given to the family
of any person who dies in a railway accident. The information sought included list of people who
have been killed during the period January to 30th November 2008 in train accident and also due to
terrorist attacks, details of compensation paid to the families of the deceased and the number of
people of those families who have been given employment in the Railways. The PIO replied on
25.2.11 providing part information against point 5 of the RTI Application. On not receiving any
further information the Applicant filed his first appeal on 15.1.11 requesting for the information once
again. Being aggrieved at not being provided any further information by the Appellate Authority he
filed a second appeal before the Commission on 25.3.2011.
Decision.
2. The Commission received a letter dated 29.7.11 from the CPIO, Dy. Railway Board explaining that
all the information was provided vide letters dated 18.1.11, 25.2.11, and 6.4.11. He also stated
that points 5 and 6 have been transferred to Zonal Railways with the direction to send the
information directly to the Appellant vide their letter dated 31.3.11. He further added that CIC’s
notice for hearing was also transferred to the concerned PIOs. (16 Zonal Railways).
3. During the hearing it was noted that the Appellant was provided against point 1 on 6.4.11 with a
brochure on provision and procedure for compensation to the victims of railway accidents. The
Appellant however denied having received the information from the CPIO, Railway Board. The
Commission therefore directs the CPIO to provide one more copy of the set of information that was
provided vide letter dated 6.4.11 to the Appellant including including a copy of the brochure. The
Appellant then sought information against points 5 of the RTI Application since according to him the
information that has been provided by 14 zonal offices is incomplete since the reasons for the
deaths of different individuals is missing . He also sought the details of victims of railway accidents
at unmanned level crossings from the different zonal Railways. The Appellant also submitted that
information against point 6 has not been provided at all by the Zonal Railways.
With regard to point 7 it was noted that the PIO, Northern Railway has not provided the information
since this point was transferred to the Norther Railways on receipt of the hearing notice,
4. The Commission after hearing both sides , directs the PIO Railway Board to transfer the points 5 and
6 to the PIOs of 16 Zonal Railways once again along with a copy of this Order directing them to
provide complete information (photocopies of records of the victims who lost their lives in train
accidents whether at any unmanned level crossing or due to any terrorist attack or because of any
railway accident) as they exist in the records. Information against point 7 to be provided to the
Appellant by the PIO , Northern Railway . All the information to be provided by 5th September 2011.
5. The Appeal is disposed of accordingly.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy
(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar
Cc
1. Shri Satya Prakash Mishra
Advocate
R/o Sector K.B – 1/55, Aliganj
Lucknow.
2. The Public Information Officer
Ministry of Railway
ED(PG) & PIO
Railway Board
Rail Bhawan
New Delhi.
3. The Appellate Authority
Ministry of Railway
Advisor (Safety)
Railway Board, Rail Bhawan
New Delhi.
4. Officer in charge, NIC.
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 RTI Act, giving
(1) copy of RTI application, (2) copy of PIO’s reply, (3) copy of the decision of the first Appellant Authority, (4) copy
of the Commission’s decision, and (5) 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.