Central Information Commission
*****
No.CIC/OK/A/2008/00287
Dated: 14 July 2008
Name of the Appellant : Shri Satnam Singh
S/o Shri Surjit Singh
Central Jail, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141001
Name of the Public Authority : National Human Rights Commission
Background:
Shri Satnam Singh of Ludhiana filed an RTI-application with the Public
Information Officer, National Human Rights Commission, on 31 August 2007,
seeking information regarding the number of complaints received in the NHRC
against the Police and Jail officials from 01 January 2006 to 17 September 2007,
name of the agency which had conducted the inquiry/investigation against
complaints received in the NHRC, etc.
2. The PIO vide his letter dated 19 September 2007 replied to his RTI-
application and requested him to submit four different RTI-applications as the
information required huge manpower, paper work and typing work, etc.
involving various divisions/branches/sections/units in the National Human Rights
Commission. The Appellant re-submitted his RTI-application on 27 September
2007. The PIO vide her letter dated 8 October 2007 replied to his RTI-
Application and stated that a reply had already been sent to him vide their
letter dated 1 October 2007. Not satisfied with the reply of the PIO, the
Appellant filed an appeal with the first Appellate Authority on 7 November 2007
who vide his letter dated 18 December 2007 replied to his appeal. Thereafter,
the Appellant approached the Central Information Commission with a Second
Appeal on 2 January 2008.
3. The Bench of Dr. O.P. Kejariwal, Information Commissioner, heard the
matter on 7 July 2008.
4. Ms. S. Manjula, Information Officer & PIO, represented the Respondents.
5. The Appellant, Shri Satnam Singh, was neither present nor send any
representative for the hearing.
Decision:
6. In the absence of the Appellant, the Commission heard the Respondent
and noted that the information asked for by the Appellant through his RTI-
application of 31 August 2007 was supplied to him only on 21 January 2008, that
is, after the Appellant had filed his Second Appeal. Since there is no
communication from the Appellant about the lacunae that he has found in the
information supplied, it is presumed that he is satisfied with the information
which has been supplied to him. However, in view of the delay in the supply of
information, the Commission decided to issue a Show Cause Notice under
Section 20(1) of the RTI-Act as to why penalty should not be levied on the
Respondents for the delay.
7. The case is thus disposed of.
Sd/-
(O.P. Kejariwal)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
Sd/-
(G. Subramanian)
Assistant Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri Satnam Singh, S/o Shri Surjit Singh, Central Jail, Ludhiana, Punjab,
141001
2. The Public Information Officer, National Human Rights Commission, Faridkot
House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi
3. The Appellate Authority, National Human Rights Commission, Faridkot
House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi
4. Officer Incharge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC