Mr.Sham Lal vs Ut Of Chandigarh on 25 February, 2011

             Central Information Commission
Room No.296, II Floor, B Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama 
                     Place, New Delhi­110066
     Telefax:011­26180532 & 011­26107254 website­cic.gov.in

            Appeal : No. CIC/DS/A/2010/001850 

Appellant /Complainant        :     Sh. Sham Lal, Chandigarh
Public Authority              :     Directorate of Estates, 
Chandigarh
                             ( Sh. Ram Singh, AEM/CPIO and 
                        Sh.Sushil
                             Soni, HC/Acctt.)
                              
Date of Hearing              :     25/02/2011
Date of Decision              :      25/02/2011 

Facts

:­ 
 

1.  Sh.   Sham   Lal   preferred   RTI   request   dated 
6.5.2010 in his capacity as Secretary of the Kendriya 
Sakarth   Karamchari   Awasiya   Sudhar   Kalyan   Sabha   and 
sought   information   from   the   CPIO,   O/O   the   Assistant 
Estate   Manager,   Kendriya   Sadan,   Sector   9­A, 
Chandigarh,   through   five   points   pertaining   to 
allotment/cancellation/sub­letting   of   quarters   of 
GPRA Colony, Sector 7 and action taken by the Public 
Authority   to   remove   sub­letting.     Information   was 
also sought on action taken on five letters submitted 
by the appellant during 2009­2010, to which they have 
not received any reply – enclosed herewith as Annexure 
‘A’.

2. The   CPIO,   vide   letter   dated   26.5.2010, 
denied   disclosure   of   information   on   the   ground   that 
the   Act   gives   right   to   information   only   to   the 
citizens   of   India   and   that   the   RTI   application   has 
been made on behalf of an Association.  CPIO had also 
returned the IPO of Rs.10/­ to the appellant.

3. Not being satisfied by the above order, the 
appellant preferred appeal dated 10.6.2010 before the 
First Appellate Authority, who disposed of the matter 
vide order dated 9.7.2010 by up­holding the order of 
the CPIO.

4. The   appellant   challenged   the   above   orders 
by   preferring   second   appeal   before   the   Commission. 
The   matter   is   heard   today.     Both   parties   were 
presented arguments in support of their positions.

Decision  

5. After   hearing   both   parties,   the   Commission 
clarifies   that   there   is   no   bar   on   providing 
information   to   registered   bodies   which   are   legal 
entities, if the RTI application and the first appeal 
are signed by the same office bearer, whose identity 
is  established.  Therefore,   respondent  is directed  to 
furnish   the   requested   information   to   the   appellant 
restricted   to a period  of one  year  from 5.5.2009  to 
5.5.2010   as   agreed   to   by   the   appellant.     Appellant 
has returned the IPO of Rs.10/­ as prescribed fee for 
presenting   an   RTI   application   to   the   respondent   at 
the   hearing.     The   information   as   requested   under 
points     1­4   and   6   be   provided   within   four   weeks   of 
the   receipt   of   the   order   alongwith   action   taken   on 
all letters of the appellant as listed at point 5. 

6. Order as above.

(Smt. Deepak Sandhu)
Information Commissioner (DS)
Authenticated true copy:

(T. K. Mohapatra)
Under Secretary & Dy. Registrar
Tel No. 011­26105027

Copy to:­