Central Information Commission
*****
No.CIC/OK/A/2008/00192
Dated: 31 July 2008
Name of the Appellant : Shri R.P. Saxena
H.No. 342/175, NauBasta
Lucknow, UP
Name of the Public Authority : North Eastern Railway
Background:
Shri R.P. Saxena of Lucknow filed an RTI-application with the Public
Information Officer, North Eastern Railway, New Delhi, on 13 August 2007,
seeking information relating to the scheme floated by the Railway Ministry for
Mobile Checking Clerks and Voluntary Ticket Checkers.
2. The PIO vide his letter dated 17 September 2007 replied to his RTI-
application. Not satisfied with the reply of the PIO, the Appellant filed an
appeal with the first Appellate Authority on 10 October 2007 and then
approached the Central Information Commission with a Second Appeal on 9
January 2008.
3. The Bench of Dr. O.P. Kejariwal, Information Commissioner, heard the
matter on 21 July 2008.
4. Ms. Indu Dubey, Sr. DCM & PIO and Shri S.K. Pandey, ADRM & Appellate
Authority, represented the Respondents.
5. The Appellant, Shri Ram Prakash Saxena, was present in person.
Decision:
6. The Commission heard both the sides in a case which related to the
Appellant’s grievance regarding a scheme of Mobile Checking Clerks and
Voluntary Ticket Checkers, which had been floated by the Railway Ministry as
far back as in 1973. Later at some point of time the schemes were given up
which resulted in a number of cases filed by members of both the groups.
During the hearing, the Respondents stated before the Commission that they
had implemented all the judgements delivered by various Courts in the matter.
However, the Appellant approached this Commission with the grievance that
there had been some advantage which had been extended to the Mobile Booking
Clerks but which had been denied to the Voluntary Ticket Checkers. His
grievance was that he had been approaching the Department for a long time but
without a satisfactory answer.
7. After hearing the both the sides, the Commission now directs the
Respondents to open up the concerned file regarding this scheme to the
Appellant. This may be done by 31 August 2008 at a time mutually convenient.
The Applicant is authorized to take photocopies of the documents that he
desires free of cost subject to a limit of 25 pages, beyond which he can get
photocopies after paying the prescribed fee.
8. In case these documents show any discrepancy, which is valid, the
Commission advises the Appellant to take up the issue with the senior officials
of the Department itself or at any other appropriate fora like the Courts.
9. The Commission ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
(O.P. Kejariwal)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
Sd/-
(G. Subramanian)
Assistant Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri R.P. Saxena, H.No. 342/175, NauBasta, Lucknow, UP,
2. The Public Information Officer, North Eastern Railway, Divisional Railway
Manager’s Office, Lucknow Division, Lucknow
3. The Appellate Authority, North Eastern Railway, Divisional Railway
Manager’s Office, Lucknow Division, Lucknow
4. Officer Incharge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC