Central Information Commission Judgements

Mr. Shyam Vir Singh vs Office Of The Deputy Commissioner on 15 December, 2008

Central Information Commission
Mr. Shyam Vir Singh vs Office Of The Deputy Commissioner on 15 December, 2008
                 CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
                           Room no.415, 4th Floor, Block IV,
                          Old JNU Campus, New Delhi 110066.
                                Tel : + 91 11 26161796

                                              Decision No. CIC /WB/C/2007/00522/SG/0545
                                                Complaint No. CIC/WB/C/2007/00522/SG

Complainant                           :          Mr. Shyam Vir Singh,
                                                 E-14, Saket,
                                                 New Delhi-110017.

Respondent                                :      Public Information Officer,
                                                 Additional District Magistrate (H.Q.),
                                                 Office of the Deputy Commissioner
                                                 (South- West), Kapashera, New Delhi


Facts

arising from the Complaint:

Mr. Shyam Vir Singh had filed a RTI application with the PIO, Additional District
Magistrate (H.Q.) Kapashera, New Delhi on 08/05/2007 asking for certain information. Since
no reply was received within the mandated time of 30 days, he had filed a complaint under
Section 18 to the Commission. The Commission issued a notice to the PIO on 10/11/2008
asking him to supply the information and sought an explanation for not furnishing the
information within the mandated time.

The Commission has neither received a copy of the information sent to the complainant, nor
has it received any explanation from the PIO for not supplying the information to the
complainant. Therefore, the only presumption that can be derived is that the PIO has
deliberately and without any reasonable cause refused to give information as per the
provisions of the RTI Act. His failure to respond to the Commission’s notice shows that he
has no reasons for the refusal of information.

Decision:

The Complaint is allowed.

The PIO will send the complete information to the complainant before January 5, 2009. The
PIO’s action clearly amounts to denial of information without any reasons. The PIO is
therefore, asked to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed and disciplinary
action be recommended against him under Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act. He will present
himself before the Commission at the above address on January 15, 2009 at 9:30 am along
with his written submissions.

Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties.

Shailesh Gandhi
Information Commissioner
15th December, 2008.

(In any correspondence on this decision, mention the complete decision number)