Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/WB/A/2010/000156SM
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 13 January 2011
Date of decision : 13 January 2011
Name of the Appellant : Shri Sushil Kumar
Assistant Manager, 11th Floor,
Shipping Corporation of India,
245, Madame Cama Road, Mumbai.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Union Public Service Commission,
(Sangh Lok Seva Ayog),
Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road,
New Delhi - 110 069.
The Appellant was present in person.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri S. Kanappan, DS was present.
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
2. We heard this case through videoconferencing. The Appellant was
present in the Mumbai studio of the NIC. The Respondent was present in our
chamber. We heard their submissions.
3. The Appellant had sought eight items of information in all concerning the
interview and selection to the post of Assistant Director in the office of the
Registrar General. Although the CPIO had provided the desired information
CIC/WB/A/2010/000156SM
against the first seven queries, he had declined to disclose the information
regarding the individual candidates on the ground that it was personal
information and was therefore exempt under Section 8(1) (j) of the Right to
Information (RTI) Act.
4. We find the plea taken by the CPIO not tenable. If the authorities chose
to invite some candidates for interview on the basis of meeting certain
benchmarks in terms of their qualification and work experience, the information
regarding that cannot be any longer classified as personal information. For the
sake of transparency, it is essential that the benchmark fixed by the authorities
for inviting candidates for the interview should be disclosed. Other such details
as their educational qualification and work experience etc should also be
disclosed if these are part of the required bench mark. Therefore, we direct the
CPIO to provide to the Appellant within 10 working days from the receipt of this
order the list of the candidates invited for the above interview along with the
educational qualification and work experience of each of those candidates,
provided these form part of the bench mark fixed for inviting candidates for
interview.
5. The appeal is disposed off accordingly.
6. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Chief Information Commissioner
CIC/WB/A/2010/000156SM
Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied against
application and payment of the charges prescribed under the Act to the CPIO of this
Commission.
(Vijay Bhalla)
Deputy Registrar
CIC/WB/A/2010/000156SM