In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/A/2011/000778
Date of Hearing : June 22, 2011
Date of Decision : June 22, 2011
Parties:
Applicant
Shri Surinder Kumar Sharma
H.No.209/23, New Model Town
P.O.Rayon & Silk Mills
G.T.Road, Chheharta
Amritsar - 143104.
Representated by : Shri Ajay Kumar Sharma
(Heard through Audio conferendcng)
Respondent(s)
Ministry of External Affairs
Regional Passport Office
2nd, 4th floor, SCO 110, Raj Tower,
District Shopping Complex
Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar - 143001.
Represented by : Shri P Roy Choudhary, Advocate
Information Commissioner : Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
___________________________________________________________________
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/A/2011/000778
ORDER
Background
1. The RTI Application dated 23.10.2010 was filed by the Applicant with the PIO, Regional Passport
Office, Amritsar seeking miscellaneous information related to his Passport Application Form and
also the details of the Officer who collected the Passport application of one Abhinav Sharma. He
also wanted to know the number of Passports issued by the Amritsar Passport Office from 1.4.2009
to 31.3.2010 and also the fee collected by the office during this period. The PIO replied on
22.11.2010 providing point wise information while denying information against points g and h as
they did not pertain to his office. Not satisfied with the reply the Applicant filed his first appeal on
27.11.2010 requesting for the information once again. The Appellate Authority in his order dated
27.12.2010 directed the PIO to send a suitable reply to the Appellant as per the provisions of the
RTI Act. Thereafter the PIO in compliance with the Appellate Authority’s order replied on 3.2.11
providing further clarification to the Appellant. Meanwhile the Appellant filed his second appeal
before the Commission.
Decision
2. During the hearing the Appellant complained about the alleged harassment he had to face and the
humiliation he was subjected to at the passport office when he visited the office to submit his
passport application . He stated that the that he was asked to produce the original documents even
though he had the copies attested by the Notary Public and that he was pressurized into submitting
the RTI application in a file with a specified colour although no rules to this effect have been issued
by the passport office.
3. After hearing both sides the Commission directs the PIO to provide point wise information once
again to the Appellant, as discussed during the hearing, while providing copies of rules which are
existing in the records. If no rule as sought by the Appellant is available, the Respondent may inform
the Appellant about its nonavailability.. Information against point ‘c’ ie. the name and designation of
the Officer who had collected the application of Abhinav Sharma may be provided to the Appellant.
Against point ‘f’ of the RTI Application a copy of the approval letter of the Head of Department
mentioned by the PIO in his letter dated 22.11.2010, may also be provided to the Appellant.
Information to be provided by 22 July, 2011.
4. The appeal is accordingly disposed of.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy
(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar
Cc
1. Shri Surinder Kumar Sharma
H.No.209/23, New Model Town
P.O.Rayon & Silk Mills
G.T.Road, Chheharta
Amritsar – 143104.
2. The Public Information Officer
Ministry of External Affairs
Regional Passport Office
2nd, 4th floor, SCO 110, Raj Tower,
District Shopping Complex
Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar – 143001.
3. The Appellate Authority
Ministry of External Affairs
Passport Office
CPV Division, Patiala House Annexe
Tilak Marg
New Delhi – 110 001.
4. Officer Incharge, NIC.