CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
B-Wing, 2nd Floor, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066
Appeal No.2541/ICPB/2008
F.No.PBC/07/491
July 29, 2008
In the matter of Right to Information Act, 2005 - Section 18
Appellant : Ms. Sangeetha
Public authority: Indian Bank
Mr. S. Lakshmanan, GM & PIO
FACTS
:
The appellant has sought information under RTI Act by her letter dated 2.4.2007
addressed to the Manager, Indian Bank, Uthangarai requesting for a recommendation
letter from Banking authorities for sanction of loan under PMRY Scheme. Since the
appellant did not receive any reply he has preferred first appeal before the first AA on
16.11.2007 by sending his letter to Banking Ombudsman, Chennai. Having not received
any reply from both the CPIO as well as from Banking Ombudsman, the appellant filed
this appeal before the Commission on 16.11.2007. Comments were called for vide letter
dated 22.01.2008, which was followed up with some reminders and finally received on
2.5.2008.
DECISION:
2. I have gone through the RTI application as well as comments furnished by the
PIO-cum-General Manager. Apart from acknowledging the receipt of application on
25.7.2007, the Chief General Manager has not taken any action in respect of this
application. Even to send this reply, the Chief General Manager has taken three months
without providing any information to the appellant. When the Commission has called for
comments from CPIO of HQ, Indian Bank, some clarification has been provided by the
said office. It has been indicated in the comments, the branch has already sanctioned the
targeted loan applications under PMRY scheme for the year 2007-08 and also the
applicant’s residence is not coming under the Bank’s jurisdiction. This fact should have
been communicated by the Branch Manager to the applicant immediately on receipt of
the application by which the applicant would have taken further steps in approaching the
concerned branch to get this loan. This has caused lot of inconvenience to the applicant
and the appellant has also stated in her appeal she has faced lot of losses on account of
not getting this loan to start business. I, therefore, direct the Branch Manager of
Uthangarai branch to show-cause why penalty cannot be imposed on him under section
20(1) of RTI Act since he has only received the RTI application and not acted upon it.
His explanation should reach the Commission within 15 days. Having not provided reply
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to the applicant, the appellant has been subjected to lot of harassment. I, therefore, direct
the Bank to give a compensation of Rs.1,000/- to the appellant under the provisions of
section 19(8)(b) of RTI Act within 15 days from the date of receipt of this decision. The
CPIO has to carry out both the directions and he has to file his reply within one month
from the date of receipt of this direction.
Let a copy of this decision be sent to the appellant and CPIO.
Sd/-
(Padma Balasubramanian)
Central Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy :
(Prem Singh Sagar)
Under Secretary & Assistant Registrar
Address of parties :
1. Mr. S. Lakshmanan, GM & PIO, Indian Bank, Head Office, Customer Service
Cell, 66, Rajaji Salai, Chennai-600001
2. Ms. Sangeetha, Village Kommampattu, Post, Govindapuram, TK & Dist.
Krishnagiri, Tamilnadu-635307
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