Central Information Commission
Dr. Paramjeet Singh vs Wadia Institute Of Himalayan Geology on 24 October, 2025
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/WIOHG/A/2024/639900 +
CIC/WIOHG/A/2024/639926
Dr. Paramjeet Singh ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: Wadia Institute of
Himalayan Geology, ... ितवादीगण/Respondent
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal(s):
Sl. No. Second Date of Date of Date of Date of Date of
Appeal RTI CPIO's First FAA's Second
No. Application Reply Appeal Order Appeal
1. 639900 15.07.2024 05.08.2024 06.08.2024 05.09.2024 06.09.2024
2. 639926 26.07.2024 22.08.2024 23.08.2024 05.09.2024 06.09.2024
The instant set of appeals have been clubbed for decision as these relate to similar
RTI Applications and same subject matter.
Date of Hearing: 23.10.2025
Date of Decision: 23.10.2025
Page 1 of 7
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
_ANANDI RAMALINGAM
ORDER
Second Appeal No. CIC/WIOHG/A/2024/639900
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 15.07.2024 seeking information on the following points:
1. Kindly provide the information of the final results (recommended /not recommended) along with the proceeding/minutes signed by the level 2 assessment board in respect of my (Dr. Paramjeet Singh) assessment promotion from Scientist C to the next higher grade of Scientist D.
2. Kindly provide the information on the certified copy of the report/proceeding signed by the internal screen committee and a copy of the report/proceeding received from the outsider reviewer for my assessment work report.
3. Kindly provide the information, what the assessment promotion criteria that have been adopted in WIHG for promotion from Scientist C to the next higher grade of Scientist D and higher like Scientist D to E, Scientist E to F.
4. Kindly provide the information on how many scientists of WIHG were promoted from Scientist C to the next higher grade of Scientist D in the last five years (2019-July 2024). What is the number of publications for their assessment promotion? Please provide the number of publications of each promoted Scientist.
1.1. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 05.08.2024 and the same is reproduced as under :-
1. A copy of the Level-2 proceeding is attached as Annexure-1, duly enforcing the severity clause as per section 10 (pages no. 1 to 9).
2. A copy of the Level-1 proceeding is attached as Annexure-2, duly enforcing the severity clause as per section 10 (pages no. 1 to 5).
3. The criteria adopted for Assessment Promotion are as per MFCS rules, which are available on the DoPT website in public domain.Page 2 of 7
4. The total of 11 scientists were promoted from Scientist 'C' to 'D' in the last five years from 2019 to July 2024.
The number of publications for each scientist is in the public domain and may be seen in the WIHG Library or in the WIHG Annual reports available on the WIHG website.
1.2. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 06.08.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 05.09.2024 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.
1.3. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 06.09.2024 Second Appeal No. CIC/WIOHG/A/2024/639926
2. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 26.07.2024 seeking information on the following points:
1. Kindly provide the information on the criteria adopted for merit promotion for Scientist E to Scientist F and the time of the residential period (excluding the lien period, if any). No. of merit promotion given for Scientist E to Scientist F in the last 5 years and information on the meritorious work carried out by Scientist E, based on that merit promotion was given.
2. Kindly provide the information on the number of publications in SCI journals and Non-SCI journals (including proceeding/status report, book edited/book chapter) by meritoriously promoted to Scientist F, with a separate list.
3. Kindly provide the information on the number of meetings of the Governing Body (GB), WIHG held to discuss the merit promotion of Scientist E to Scientist F in the last 5 Years along with a certified copy of the proceeding/minutes of the meetings signed by honourable chairmen and members. What was the criteria adopted to approve the merit promotion for Scientist E to Scientist F by GB, WIHG.Page 3 of 7
4. Kindly provide the information on the total money spent on fieldwork carried out (with movement order copy) and on trenching work for paleo-
seismological work in the NW-NE Himalaya (along with the certified copy of payment made to hydra/JCB machine for trenching) in the last 5 years by WIHG.
2.1. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 22.08.2024 and the same is reproduced as under :-
"Point 1: The criteria adopted for Assessment Promotion are per MFCS rules and are available on the DoPT website in the public domain. The information on the merit promotion of a particular person or persons comes under section 11 as Third-Party information, so it cannot be disclosed.
Point 2: The number of publications for each scientist is in the public domain and may be seen in the WIHG Library or the WIHG Annual reports available on the WIHG website.
Point 3: The information on the merit promotion and meetings of the Governing Body regarding a particular merit promotion of a person or persons comes under section 11 as Third-Party information, so it cannot be disclosed. The criteria adopted for Assessment Promotion are per MFCS rules.
Point 4: The information asked is voluminous. Therefore, as you are the institute's scientist, you are requested to please collect this information from the Assistant Finance & Accounts Officer of the WIHG, Dehradun. The same has been conveyed to the AFAO, WIHG.
Point 5: The information asked is voluminous. Therefore, as you are the institute's scientist, you are requested to please collect this information from the Assistant Finance & Accounts Officer of the WIHG, Dehradun. The same has been conveyed to the AFAO, WIHG.Page 4 of 7
The number of publications for each scientist is in the public domain and may be seen in the WIHG Library or the WIHG Annual reports available on the WIHG website."
2.2. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 23.08.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 05.09.2024 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.
2.3. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 06.09.2024.
3. The appellant remained absent despite service of hearing notice in advance and on behalf of the respondent Dr. Vikas - CPIO/Scientist D attended the hearing through video conference.
4. The appellant's written submission dated 16.10.2025 in the appeal number CIC/WIOHG/A/2024/639900 reveals that he had been informed vide documents provided by the CPIO i.e. proceedings of Assessment Promotion Committee held on 28.06.2024 that the Board had not recommended him for promotion to the next grade.
5. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that in both the aforementioned appeals, the appellant had been duly provided information available on record by the PIO. The respondent also placed reliance on the written submissions dated 16.10.2025 wherein apart from reiterating the response/information already sent by the PIO, in details, some additional facts have been also stated by the respondent, relevant excerpt whereof is as under:
The number of publications for each scientist is in the public domain and may be seen in the WIHG Library or in the WIHG Annual reports available on the WIHG website. Furthermore, the undersign informs the CIC that information on each scientist's complete profile, including research work, can be accessed on the institute's website Page 5 of 7 (https://www.wihg.res.in/scientists), which is readily available to anyone worldwide.
Additionally, I would like to inform the Honourable CIC that information about the scientists' publications year-wise is also available in the public domain on their Google Scholar Page, which is readily available to anyone worldwide.
Further, in case the applicant requires the information from the Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) of a particular scientist, this cannot be disclosed since it is third-party information under section 11 of the RTI Act, being a confidential document in the service record.
Furthermore, during the course of hearing the respondent contended that the while both Level 1 and Level 2 proceeding had been provided to the appellant, copy of report/proceeding of the outside reviewer was not available and hence the same could not be provided to the appellant.
7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the cases at hand, hearing the respondent and perusal of records, observed that information sought by the Appellant has been duly provided to him by the respondent vide PIO replies from available records. Considering the fact that the written submissions dated 16.10.2025 filed by the respondent in both cases contain detailed and comprehensive information, the respondent is directed to send a copy of written submissions to the appellant within ten days of receipt of this order, under intimation to the Commission. Since the appellant has chosen not to contest the appeals, the Commission is of the considered opinion that no further intervention is warranted in both the appeals. Accordingly, the appeals are dismissed.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Page 6 of 7Sd/-
(Anandi Ramalingam) (आनंदी रामिलंगम) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) िदनांक/Date: 23.10.2025 Authenticated true copy O. P. Pokhriyal (ओ. पी. पोख रयाल) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26180514 Addresses of the parties:
1. The CPIO Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology : Dehradun, 33, General Mahadeo Singh Road, Vijay Park, Dehradun, Uttarakhand - 248001
2. Dr. Paramjeet Singh Page 7 of 7 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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