Central Information Commission
*****
No.CIC/OK/C/2008/00324
Dated: 06 January 2009
Name of the Complainant : Shri Saidurrehman
R\o Running Shed Colony
L.D-14 A, Terhi Pulia
Alam Bagh, Lucknow, 226005
Name of the Public Authority : Northern Railway
Background:
Shri Saidurrehman of Lucknow filed an RTI-application with the Public
Information Officer, Northern Railway, Lucknow, on 21 January 2008, seeking
information relating to the Medical Board Examination of employees.
2. Not getting any reply from the PIO, the Applicant approached the Central
Information Commission with a complaint on 5 March 2008, which was registered
in the Commission on 24 April 2008.
3. The Bench of Dr. O.P. Kejariwal, Information Commissioner, heard the
matter on 2 January 2009.
4. Shri Govind Prasad, Sr. DMM & PIO, Shri S.A.H. Rizvi, ADME/D and Shri
Mata Deen, ADME (O & F), represented the Respondents.
5. The Complainant, Shri Saidurrehman, was present in person.
Decision:
6. The Commission both the sides and noted that the Appellant vide an RTI-
application dated 21 August 2007 had asked for information pertaining to three
different Departments. According to the Respondents while information was
provided in time from two Departments, there was no response from the third.
The Commission saw the application and found that the Applicant had indeed
asked for voluminous information leading to undue diversion of the
Department’s resources. Thus, for instance, the information asked for related
to each periodical medical examination due for personnel between the age of 45
and 55. Similarly, the date of certificate of fitness over the last 10 years, the
date of birth, date of appointment, etc., of each employee. Not only that, the
Applicant asked for details even after the age of 55 to the age of retirement.
The Commission has earlier dismissed such requests terming them as
infructuous. However, in the present case, the Respondents while admitting
that the information asked for related to around 1800 personnel were prepared
to open up the concerned records for the inspection of the Appellant. The
Commission did not agree to the Appellant’s request for providing this
information in a tabulated form. He may go through the records and prepare his
own format for the information received and in case he notices any irregularity
should fee free to bring it to the notice of the higher authorities.
7. For this, the two parties may fix up a time convenient to both. Since the
exercise is likely to last over a month or so, convenient dates may be fixed by
mutual consent.
8. The case is thus disposed of.
(O.P. Kejariwal)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
(G. Subramanian)
Assistant Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri Saidurrehman, R\o Running Shed Colony, L.D-14 A, Terhi Pulia, Alam
Bagh, Lucknow, 226005
2. The Public Information Officer, Northern Railway, Divisional Railway
Manager’s Office, Hazratganj, Lucknow Division, Lucknow
3. Officer Incharge, NIC
4. Press E Group, CIC