Central Information Commission
Complaint No.CIC/PB/C/2008/00889-SM dated 02.07.2008
Right to Information Act-2005-Under Section (18)
Dated: 22 July 2009
Name of the Complainant : Shri Ram Asarey,
Village: Turkman Purva Devi Pur,
Tehsil Tirva Janpath,
Kannauj, U.P.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Allahabad Bank,
Office of the Branch Manager, Tivi,
Kannauj, U.P.
The Complainant was present along with Shri Suresh Chand.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri Shivom Sharma, Manager (Law),
was present.
2. The case in brief is that the Complainant had requested the
CPIO/Branch Manager on July 2, 2008 for a number of information about the
waiver of loan by the Government of India in general and about the waiver
of his own loan in particular. Claiming that he did not receive any reply or
information within the stipulated period he has sent this complaint to the
CIC.
3. During the hearing, both the parties were present and made their
submissions. The Respondent submitted that the original application for
information had not been received by the CPIO and that they came to know
about it only when a notice from the CIC was received along with a copy of
the appeal/complaint including its enclosures. He further submitted that as
soon as they came to know about the request, they had sent a reply to the
Complainant on September 1, 2008 providing the desired information. The
Complainant claimed not to have received this communication at all and,
therefore, we provided him with a copy of the reply. The Complainant
further submitted that his loan for purchase of a Tractor was not waived by
CIC/PB/C/2008/00889-SM
the Branch even though similar loans by others were waived. We are afraid
we will not be able to help him in this matter. He may have to take up his
grievance with the appropriate authorities in the Bank for redressal.
4. Before closing, we would like to observe that the Bank should make
proper arrangement at the Branch level to accept applications for
information which could then be forwarded to the designated CPIO. In large
Public Authorities like the Public Sector Banks having numerous Branches all
over the country, it is important to have sufficient number of CPIOs to deal
with requests for information. In this particular case, in the absence of any
evidence to the contrary, we accept the contention of the Respondent that
the original application had not been received in the Branch and, therefore,
no reply was sent.
5. With the above observations, the complaint 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)
Assistant Registrar
CIC/PB/C/2008/00889-SM