Central Information Commission
Kunwarsen Dhangar vs Agricultural And Processed Food ... on 1 October, 2025
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/APPEA/A/2024/643945
Kunwarsen Dhangar .....अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO,
Agricultural and Processed
Food Products Export
Development Authority, 3rd
Floor, NCUI Building, 3 Siri
Institutional Area, August
Karanti Marg, New Delhi - 110016 .... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 25.09.2025
Date of Decision : 30.09.2025
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 06.08.2024
CPIO replied on : 02.09.2024
First appeal filed on : 04.09.2024
First Appellate Authority's order : 01.10.2024
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 02.10.2024
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 06.08.2024 (offline) seeking the following information:Page 1 of 6
"महोदय, "Agriculture & Processed Food Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA" for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) एवं Operational Guidelines के संदभ म न न ल खत जानकार क स या पत छाया त दान कर ।
1- व"ीय बष 2023-24 म Export Infrastructure Development पर 24.00 (In Rs Crore) क धनरा श पंजीकृत शहद नयातक) के वकास हे तु योजना अंतगत पै.कंग, /े0डंग लाइन) के साथ पैक हाउस क सु5बधाओं, को7ड 8टोरे ज प:रवहन के साथ ीकु लंग इकाइयां से लाभां5बत लाभा;थय) के नाम, पता का नाम, कंपनी फम का पता क स या पत छाया त ।
2- व"ीय बष 2023-24 म Quality Development पर 8.00 (In Rs Crore) क धनरा श पंजीकृत शहद नयातक) के वकास हे तु योजना अंतगत ीयोगशाला, नमून) के पर >ण से लाभां5बत लाभा;थय) के नाम, पता का नाम, कंपनी, फम का पता क स या पत छाया त।
3- व"ीय बष 2023-24 म Marketing Development पर 48.00 (In Rs Crore) क धनरा श को International Trade Fairs म भागीदार क सं@या, Aयापार त न;ध मंडल) का आ दान दान Cेता वCेता बैठक) का आ योजन) क सं@या, एपीडा म ऑनलाइन आ वेदन) क सं@या, एससी/एसट भागीदार) क सं@या, नए उ पाद) के लए मानक वक सत कराना और मौजूदा मानक) को उHनत करना क स या पत छाया त।
4- Agriculture & Processed Food Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA" for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) के पैरा (x) अनुसार व"ीय वष 2023-24 म नयात) बा षक growth 10% क स या पत छाया त।
5- Agriculture & Processed Food Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA" for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle(2021-22to2025-26) के पैरा (xiii) अनुसार व"ीय वष 2023-24 म उIत योजना के .कयाHवयन म छोटे नयात) को ाथ मकता, दे श के पछड़े >ेK) के नयातक) को ो साLहत .कया गया है Page 2 of 6 लाभा;थय) के नाम, पता का नाम, कंपनी, फम का पता क स या पत छाया त।"
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 02.09.2024 stating as under:
"APEDA provided financial assistance under sub-component 7(b) of Quality Development i.e., APEDA registered exporters for in-house lab equipment under Financial Assistance Scheme for the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) to one exporter in financial year 2023-24 for testing of in-house samples of agricultural products including honey for the application received in the financial year 2022-23."
3. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 04.09.2024. The FAA vide its order dated 01.10.2024, held as under:
"यह 15व व" आयोग चC (2021-22 से2025-26) और प:रचालन Lदशा नदN श) के लए एपीडा क क ृ ष सं8क ृ त खाOय नयात संवधन योजना के संबंध म आपके आरट आई आवेदन सं@या एपीपीईए/आर/ई/24/00097 के संबंध म पीआईओ Oवारा भेजेगए उ"र के वQOध Lदनांक 04.09.2024 क आपक अपील केसंदभ म है ।
उपरोIत वषय पर पीआईओ Oवारा दान क गई जानक ार सह है । इसके अलावा, इस अपील म लाभा;थय) के ववरण पर मांगी गई जानक ार तत ृ ीय प> एवं आरट आई अ;ध नयम 2005 क धारा 8 (1) (D) और (E) केतहत वा णिSयक गोपनीयता और ययी (fiduciary) क ृ त सेसंबं;धत है ।
तदनुसार, अपील न8ता:रत क जाती है ।"
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present in person.
Respondent: Ms. Reena Abraham, DGM/CPIO; and Shri Saurav Agarwal, AGM/CPIO, appeared in person.Page 3 of 6
5. Proof of having served a copy of Second Appeal on Respondent while filing the same in CIC on 02.10.2024 is not available on record. The Respondent confirmed non-service.
6. The Appellant inter alia submitted that reply given by the Respondent was incomplete, evasive and misleading. Accordingly, he requested the Commission to direct the Respondent to provide the information free of cost.
7. The Respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that she had filed detailed written submissions dated 23.09.2025 stating complete facts of the case and requested the Commission to place the same on record, copy of the same was sent to the Appellant. The relevant paras of the written submission are reproduced as under:
"This is with reference to Appeal No. CIC/APPEA/A/2024/643945, listed for hearing before the Hon'ble Information Commissioner, Shri Vinod Kumar Tiwari, on 25.09.2025. The following is the written submission on behalf of the Respondent, Central Public Information Officer, APEDA.
The appellant filed an RTI application dated 06.08.2024, seeking details of beneficiaries under the Quality Development Scheme during the financial year 2023-24 for the development of laboratories for testing samples of registered honey exporters. In response, the CPIO furnished the available information to the appellant vide letter No. APEDA-RTI/76/2024-RTI-Part (1) dated 02.09.2024, in addition to filing an online response on the same date.
The appellant filed a First Appeal dated 04.09.2024, which was disposed of by the First Appellate Authority (FAA) on 01.10.2024 vide letter No. APEDA- RTI/96/2024-RTI, wherein it was stated that the CPIO had furnished the required information without compromising the provisions of Section 8(1)
(d) and 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act. The appellant thereafter approached this Hon'ble Commission by way of the present Second Appeal.
The information sought by the Appellant was "Attested photocopy of beneficiaries name, father name, company, firm address which were benefited from fund 8.00 (in Rs Crore) in the financial year 2023-24 under scheme for quality Development for the development of laboratories, testing of samples of registered honey exporters".
APEDA provides financial assistance under sub-component 7(b) of Quality Development for APEDA-registered exporters for the purchase/upgradation of in-house laboratory equipment to ensure in-house quality. As per the Page 4 of 6 Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA For The 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 To 2025-26), the assistance is up to 50% of the cost, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakhs. The beneficiaries of the scheme are member exporters registered with APEDA.
As per the available records, Financial assistance for purchase/up gradation of in-house laboratory equipment was provided to one exporter during the financial year 2023-24 (under the 15th Finance Commission cycle 2021-22 to 2025-26) against an application received in 2022-23, for testing of agricultural products including honey.
The above information was furnished to the appellant. However, the names of beneficiaries, including details such as father's name, company, and firm address, were not disclosed in view of Section 8(1)(d) and Section 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act, 2005, as the information relates to commercial confidence, trade secrets, or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, and is fiduciary in nature. The Hon'ble CIC has consistently upheld in similar cases (e.g. Shri Neeraj Sharma Vs. CPIO, RBI, Appeal no: CIC/RBIND/A/2017/167309) that disclosure of third-party information such as names, addresses, and financial details, held in fiduciary capacity, is exempted under Section 8(1)(d) and 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act.
Prayer In view of the facts and circumstances stated above, it is most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Commission may kindly consider the reply of the CPIO dated 02.09.2024 for denial of certain information in accordance with Section 8(1)(d) and Section 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act, 2005."
Decision:
8. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both the parties and perusal of the records, notes that the information sought by the Appellant pertains to the utilization of significant public funds under a government scheme. Details such as beneficiaries' names, assistance received, and utilization are matters of larger public interest, as they relate to transparency and accountability in implementation of subsidy/assistance schemes.
9. The Commission is not convinced by the Respondent's reliance on Section 8(1)(d) & 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act in the present case. Disclosure of beneficiaries under government-funded schemes cannot ordinarily be treated Page 5 of 6 as "commercial confidence" or "fiduciary information," as the assistance is disbursed out of public exchequer. The Hon'ble Supreme Court and the CIC in several decisions have emphasized proactive disclosure of such information under Section 4(1)(b) and 4(2) of the RTI Act. Therefore, the denial of beneficiary details in the instant matter is unsustainable.
10. In view of the above discussion, the Commission directs the Respondent as under:
a) To provide the Appellant, free of cost, the complete list of beneficiaries (name, company/firm address, etc.) for the financial year 2023-24 under the Agriculture & Processed Food Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA for all heads mentioned in the RTI application, within three weeks from the date of receipt of this order.
b) To place the list of beneficiaries and scheme-wise utilization of funds for FY 2023-24 in the public domain (official website of APEDA) in compliance with Section 4(1)(b) & 4(2) of the RTI Act, within six weeks of this order, and confirm compliance to the Commission.
11. The FAA to ensure compliance of this order.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari (िवनोद कुमार ितवारी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स!ािपत ित) (S. Anantharaman) Dy. Registrar 011- 26181927 Copy To:
The FAA, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, 3rd Floor, NCUI Building, 3 Siri Institutional Area, August Karanti Marg, New Delhi - 110016 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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