Central Information Commission
CIC/OP/A/2009/000148/AD
Dated 18 January 2010
Name of the Appellant : Shri T.R. Madanagopal,
Name of Public Authority : Southern Railway, Chennai.
Background
1. The RTI application was filed by the Applicant on 14.09.08 with the PIO, Southern
Railway, Chennai requesting for information related to the pension of his father who
worked as a the Head clerk , Commercial Branch of the Southern Railway from
16.03.1928 to 04.01.1966. The Applicant stated that he had applied seeking
information about his late father’s pension on 17.07.08 and that no reply has been
given to him. The PIO replied on 20.11.08 denying the information as RTI is not
forum for redressal of grievances and that information sought does not fall under the
definition of information as given under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act. He forwarded the
RTI application to APIO (Bills and welfare) and suggested that the Applicant submit the
copy of the service certificate issued to his brother along with the copy of pension
payment order issued to him to the APO( Bills and welfare). Being aggrieved with this
reply, the Applicant filed his First Appeal on 10.12.08 (not on record). The Appellate
Authority replied on 19.01.08 reiterating that the application is not being processed as
it seeks redressal of a grievance. Still not satisfied, the Applicant filed his Second
appeal before the Commission on 24.12.09 reiterating his request for the information.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, heard the matter for
January 18, 2010.
3. The Appellant was not present during the hearing.
4. Ms. Sunita Vedantam, CPO & PIO and Mr. A.K Gupta, ADM & AA represented the Public
Authority.
Decision
5. The Respondents submitted that the Appellant had furnished the service certificate of
his late father but no copy of the Pension Payment Order was submitted by him and
that he had met with the PIO and was informed that the Accounts Department is the
custodian of the pensioners’ scroll and that since the information is more than 40
years old and also since the Pension Payment Order has not been furnished, efforts
are being made to trace the details of his father based on the service certificate
provided by him. Accordingly the Appellant may be informed by 15.02.2010 the
information sought by him after locating the same. In the event the information is not
available, the Appellant to be informed about he non-availability of information while
giving reasons for the same.
6. The appeal is accordingly disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:
(G.Subramanian)
Asst. Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri T. Periasamy,
H.No. 105/75 B,
Harvery Nagar,
4th Street,
Arasaradi, Madurai-625016.
2. The Public Information Officer,
Southern Railway,
Headquarters Office,
Personnel Branch
Chennai-600003.
3. The Appellate Authority,
Southern Railway,
Headquarters Office,
Personnel Branch
Chennai-600003.
4. Officer incharge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC