Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/SM/C/2009/000541
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 22 February 2011
Date of decision : 22 February 2011
Name of the Complainant : Smt. Dhanno Devi
W/o. Shri Shiv Kumar Verma,
548, J.A. /123, New Basti,
Mardan Kheda, Near Krishna Public
School, Post - Rajaji Puram, Lucknow.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Punjab National Bank,
Sahadatganj Branch,
Lucknow.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri S.N. Mishra was present.
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
2. In our order dated for December 2009, we had directed the CPIO/
Branch Manager concerned not only to provide the desired information but also
to explain why he had not provided the information in time. In response, we had
received a written communication dated 18 December 2009 which did not give
any explanation for the delay. Therefore, we had fixed this hearing to
understand from the CPIO/Branch Manager if he had any reasonable cause.
3. During the hearing today, the officer concerned appeared in the
Lucknow studio of the NIC and submitted that the delay of nearly 1 and half
CIC/SM/C/2009/000541
years on his part in providing the information was caused because the account
about which the information had been sought had been closed and the relevant
records misplaced in the Branch and that he took such a long time in searching
it out. Even if we accept this explanation, the fact remains that the complainant
suffered a lot of detriment and financial loss in the process of approaching
various authorities including the CIC for getting any relief in the matter. We
think that the complainant deserves to be compensated for this. Therefore, in
exercise of the powers vested in the CIC in section 19(8) (b) of the Right to
Information (RTI) Act, we direct the Bank to compensate her by an amount of
Rs 5000 for the said loss. We also direct the CPIO of the Bank to remit this
amount to the complainant within 15 working days from the receipt of this order
by way of demand draft. The compliance of this order be communicated to the
CIC.
4. The cases disposed of accordingly.
5. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Chief 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)
Deputy Registrar
CIC/SM/C/2009/000541