Central Information Commission
CIC/OP/C/2009/000087-AD
Dated December 31, 2009
Name of the Applicant : Shri Prabhakar S. Badkhal
Name of the Public Authority : Central Railway, Wardha
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.18.3.06 with the Sr.Asst. Divisional Engineer,
CR, Wardha. He stated that on 26.1.04 which is a National Holiday, he was on duty
along with the pump operator. Although, he was entitled for payment on that day, the
same was not given to him. He also stated that during the period 21.12.05 to 31.1.06
on various occasions when the pump operator was absent from duty, he had operated
the pump in his place . However, no officiating allowance has been paid to him. The
Sr.Asst. Divisional Engineer replied on 28.3.06 informing him that in the test held for
the pump operator Grade III, he had failed to qualify and he also enclosed a letter
dt.31.8.05 from CR, Nagpur stating that the Applicant had not qualified in the test for
pump operator. Being aggrieved with the reply, the Applicant filed a complaint
18.5.09 before CIC.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the hearing
for December 31, 2009.
3. Shri Manoj Kumar Gangeya, Sr.DCM, CR, Nagpur & PIO, Shri A.S.Deshpande, Asst.
Engineer, Wardha, Shri A.K.Nema, DPO, Nagpur represented the Public Authority.
4. The Applicant was present during the hearing.
Decision
5. The Applicant submitted that he he had been nominated to undergo a pump operator’s
training and that he had qualified in it . He produced the certificate of having passed
in the training and added that he was never called for any pre training screening test
as mentioned by the PIO. He wanted to know why he was nominated for the training
if the contention of the Respondent that he had failed in the test is true. The
Respondent who came late for the hearing, after the Appellant left, was informed by
the Commission about the Appellant’s submission that he had not appeared in any
test. The Respondent, however, failed to confirm whether the Appellant had actually
appeared in the test or not.
6. The Commission after hearing the submissions of both sides directs the PIO to
conduct an inquiry u/s 18(2) into the matter of non-payment to the Appellant for
the period he had worked as the pump operator, even though he had qualified in the
pump operator’s training and to inform the Appellant about the outcome of the
enquiry and also to take a decision with regard to payment by the end of January,
2010. The appeal is accordingly disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri Prabhakar Sakharam Badkhal
Khalasi
Sr. Section Engineer (Works)
Central Railway
Wardha
2. The PIO
Central Railway
Divisional Railway Manager’s Office
Wardha Division
Wardha
3. Officer incharge, NIC
4. Press E Group, CIC