Central Information Commission
Balwan Singh vs National Agri Food Biotechnology ... on 27 February, 2026
CIC/CIABM/A/2024/645911/NAFBI
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं ा / Second Appeal No. CIC/CIABM/A/2024/645911/NAFBI
Balwan Singh ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: M/o. Science &
Technology, Mohali (Punjab). ... ितवादीगण/Respondents
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI : 12.07.2024 FA : 16.08.2024 SA : Nil.
CPIO : 23.08.2024 FAO : Not on record Hearing : 25.02.2026
Date of Decision: 25.02.2026 CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
Shri P R Ramesh
ORDER
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 12.07.2024 seeking information on the following points:
1. Copy of authority letter/executive order of competent authority for hold on MANAS policy post audit objection. (CA as per bye laws of CIAB to do so is Honourable Minister of Science and Technology/DBT)
2. Copy of CIAB complete file proceedings/noting of approval of CEO-CIAB for issuing orders vide CIAB letter CIAB/3/13]/2019-Estt./59 dated 11th July, 2024, Page 1 of 4 CIC/CIABM/A/2024/645911/NAFBI
3. Copy of DBT letter to CIAB communicating its decision of hold on MANAS policy till receipt of reply from CSIR.
4. Copy of provision/guidelines/clause/extract of govt. policy empowering/authorizing CEO-CIAB to amend/hold on CIAB bye laws provisions, superseding the approving authority of CIAB bye laws ie. orders of Honourable Minister of Science and Technology/DBT.
2. Having not received any response from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal on 16.08.2024.
3. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 23.08.2024 and the same is reproduced as under:-
1 Copy of approval from Competent Authority i.e. CEO-CIAB is enclosed.
2 Copy of complete file is enclosed.
3 Not available 4 CEO- CIAB has been vested with executive and administrative powers for institutional functioning under CIAB bye-laws. However, the information requested is ambiguous and unclear.
4. Aggrieved with the non-receipt of the FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated Nil.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Appellant: Present through video-conference.
Respondent: Shri Anil Dhankar, AO- participated in the hearing
5. The Appellant inter alia submitted that the information sought has not been provided to him till date. He averred that the issue involved relates to the promotion of employees under MANAS policy which has been put on hold without any specific Page 2 of 4 CIC/CIABM/A/2024/645911/NAFBI direction from the Ministry. He averred that information sought ought to be provided by the PIO as per the provisions of the RTI Act.
6. The Respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that point-wise information has been duly provided to the Appellant. He averred that as regards point No. 3 of the RTI Application, the document was not available earlier and can be provided at this stage. A written submission dated 02.02.2026 has been received from the CPIO and same has been taken on record for perusal.
Decision:
7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both parties and perusal of records, observes that the main premise of instant Second Appeal is non-furnishing of information by the PIO. It is observed that the PIO during hearing stated that with respect to point No. 3 of the RTI Application, the document sought was earlier not available and can be provided at this stage. Accordingly, the PIO is directed to revisit the instant RTI Application and provide a revised reply with respect to point No. 3 along with necessary annexures if any , as available in their records, with regards to the instant RTI Application, to the Appellant, free of cost via speed post, within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order and accordingly compliance report to this effect be duly sent to the Commission by the PIO. In doing so PIO must ensure that information which is exempted from disclosure under RTI Act, 2005 must not be disclosed to the Appellant and same must be redacted under section 10 of the RTI Act, 2005 prior to the said disclosure. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Sd/-
(P R Ramesh) (पी. आर. रमे श) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Page 3 of 4 CIC/CIABM/A/2024/645911/NAFBI Authenticated true copy Vivek Agarwal (िववेक अ वाल) Dy. Registrar (उप पं जीयक) 011-26107048 Addresses of the parties:
1 The CPIO Center of Innovative & Applied Bioprocessing-(CIAB) (M/o.
Science & Technology), CIAB Campus, Sector-81 (Knowledge City), S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali-140306 (Punjab).
2 Balwan Singh Page 4 of 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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