Central Information Commission Judgements

Mr.Vipin Batra vs State Bank Of India on 20 May, 2010

Central Information Commission
Mr.Vipin Batra vs State Bank Of India on 20 May, 2010
                          Central Information Commission
                Complaint No.CIC/SM/C/2009/000086 dated 19­08­2008
                  Right to Information Act­2005­Under Section (18)




                                                                  Dated:  20 May 2010


Name of the Complainant                :   Shri Vipin Batra
                                           Partner M/s Northern Coir,
                                           Flat No. 37B, GH­8, Kendriya Vihar,
                                           Sector­25, Panchkula, 
                                           Haryana - 134 113.


Name of the Public Authority           :   CPIO, State Bank of India,
                                           Local Head Office, 
                                           PB.No.139, Sector - 17A,
                                           Chandigarh - 160 017.



         The Complainant was present in person.

         On behalf of the Respondent, the following were present:­
         (i)       Shri Davinder Singh,
         (ii)      Shri H.S. Sharma



2. In this case before the Commission, the Complainant had, through his 

letter   dated   19   August   2008,   requested   the   CPIO   for   some   information 

regarding   a   consent   letter   which   took   away   his   legitimate   share   from   a 

partnership firm. The CPIO responded to the RTI application by a letter dated 4 

September 2008 in which he denied the information to the Complainant on the 

ground that the requested information was exempted from disclosure under the 

Sections 8 (1) (d), (e), (g), (h) and (j) of the Right to Information Act. Even the 

CIC/SM/C/2009/000086
little   information  the   CPIO  provided  is   being  alleged  to   be   incorrect  by   the 

Complainant. The Complainant has thus come before the CIC seeking justice. 

3. We   heard   this   case   through   videoconferencing.   The   Appellant   was 

present in the Panchkula studio of the NIC. The Respondents were present in 

the Chandigarh studio. We heard their submissions. It was submitted that the 

enquiry and investigation into the allegations made by the Appellant was still on 

and   the   disclosure   of   the   enquiry  report   which   had   been   submitted   by   the 

enquiry officer in this case would adversely affect the course of investigation. 

The Respondents pleaded that in terms of Section 8(1) (h), they should not be 

asked   to   disclose   the   report   at   this   stage.   However,   they   would   have   no 

objection   to   disclose   a   copy   of   the   report   of   the   government   examiner   of 

questioned documents. The Appellant agreed to this.

4. We, therefore, now direct the CPIO to provide to the Appellant a copy of 

the report received from the government examiner of questioned documents in 

this matter within 10 working days from receipt of this order.

5. With the above direction, the appeal is disposed off.

6. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.

(Satyananda Mishra)
Information Commissioner

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)

CIC/SM/C/2009/000086
Assistant Registrar 

CIC/SM/C/2009/000086