Central Information Commission
Aakash Goel vs Department Of Food & Public ... on 30 July, 2025
Author: Heeralal Samariya
Bench: Heeralal Samariya
के न्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई दिल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
नितीय अपील संख्या / Second Appeal No. CIC/DOFPD/A/2024/626889.
Shri. Aakash Goel. ... अपीलकताग/Appellant
VERSUS/बनाम
PIO, ...प्रनतवािीगण /Respondent
Department of Food & Public Distribution.
Date of Hearing : 28.07.2025
Date of Decision : 28.07.2025
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Heeralal Samariya
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 26.03.2024
PIO replied on : 19.04.2024
First Appeal filed on : 19.04.2024
First Appellate Order on : 14.08.2024
2ndAppeal/complaint received on : 27.06.2024
Information soughtand background of the case:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 26.03.2024 seeking information on following points:-
"Supreme Court on 19-Mar-24 sternly reiterated its order of providing ration card entitlement to eshram registrants not holding it yet (order attached). The directions are to be fulfilled by states.
The court is unable to understand that (a) there is a state wise limit hai as 2015 rules, (b) if eshram registrant is really a migrant worker, then which state should issue ration card given concept of one nation one ration whereby host state ration card can be used in migrated state, (c) eshram database has still not evolved system of verifying details as part of self declaration. Even a person like me who pays upwards of Rs 20 Lakhs in taxes annually can register on eshram website. Court order if implemented, will result in me getting ration card too, and (d) shouldnt corollary of court order be also applied, le all 16 plus to 60 minus not appearing in e-shram database be removed from ration database? It is essential because rules allow e-shram database to be cross-checked with tax/epf etc databases. But unless notification issued, like pahal, ration card despite being aadhaar linked are not yet checked for economic status."
Page 1 The CPIO, vide letter dated 19.04.2024 replied as under:-
"Reply :- Your online RTI application has been forwarded by Nodal Officer/CPIO on 04.04.2024 to Computerization Cell of this Department. The information sought in the RTI application is number of beneficiaries in One Nation One Ration Card database aged 16 (or more) and 59 (or less).
As far as Computerization Cell is concerned, it is informed that the said data is primarily owned by States/UTs, therefore, you are requested to kindly approach the concerned Food & Civil Supplies Department of the respective States/UTs to have the requisite updated information in this regard."
Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 19.04.2024. The FAA vide order dated 14.08.2024 sated as under:
"..It is stated that One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan provides an option to the NFSA beneficiaries to lift their entitled quota of foodgrains from any FPS of their choice, anywhere in the country, by using their same/existing ration card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication on an electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) device installed at the FPSs. It is also noteworthy that this Department with the help of National Informatics Centre (Technical Partner) & with the help of State/UT Govts enables the ONORC transactions of Ration Cards. There are no NFSA beneficiaries registered as ONORC in the database. The implementation of ONORC on ground level is under the jurisdiction of respective State/UT Governments. Further, it is highlighted here that the custodian/ownership of database, in respect of ration card holders/beneficiaries for ONORC transactions, is with the concerned State/UT Government. Therefore, you are again requested to seek requisite updated information directly from the Public Information Officer, Department of Food & Civil Supplies of concerned respective State/UT Governments..."
Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Written submission dated 24.07.2025 has been received from the CPIO and same has been taken on record for perusal. The relevant extract whereof is as under:
Kindly refer to the notice of hearing for the Appeal/ complaint of Shri Aakash Goel on 28-07-2025 at 11.35 AM before the Hon'ble Chief Information Commissioner. A written submission with reference to the hearing of the appeal/complaint on 28-07- 2025 in respect of the RTI application dated 26-03-2024 & 1"
Appeal dated 19-04-2024 filed by the appellant/complainant, is as below.
2. That Applicant has stated that the online RTI application (DOFPD/R/E/24/00164) was submitted on 26-03-2024 and the CPIO/US (Comp), of this Department, timely provided a response on 19-04-2024 that the said data is primarily owned by Page 2 State/UTs, therefore, requested appellant to kindly approach the concerned PIO, Food & Civil Supplies Deptt. of the respective State/UTs to have the requisite updated information in this regard.
3. Appellant then filed a First Appeal (DOFPD/A/E/24/00027) on 19-04-2024 before the First Appellate Authority (FAA)/ Joint Director (PD-I & Comp. Cell) and further appellant stated that he did not receive response till the date of filing 2nd Appeal l.e. 24-06- 2024. However, an online reply/order from FAA dated 14-08-2024 was sent by FAA to Appellant (copy enclosed) (which is a delayed reply to First Appeal on the part of FAA, beyond the prescribed period of reply). Through this said reply/order of FAA dated 14-08- 2024, FAA has also reiterated and highlighted facts in details and requested appellant to seek the requisite updated information directly from the PIO, Food & Civil Supplies Deptt. of the concerned respective State/UT Governments.
4. However, the appellant has yet stated that he has not received response bil date regarding the query "Number of beneficiaries in One Nation One Ration Card database aged 16 (or more) and 59 (or less)".
5. Subsequently, a Second Appeal has been filed before the Central information Commission to inservene.
6.Further, with regard to above issue raised in the Second Appeal, the kind submission/response are as below:
In this regard, it is submitted that the CPIO/US (Comp) of this Department, has provided the information, as available on record, in prescribed time, to the appellant on 19-04-2024 that the said data is primarily owned by State/UTs, therefore, requested appellant to kindly approach the concerned PIO, Food & Civil Supplies Deptt. of the respective State/UTs to have the requisite updated information in this regard (copy enclosed). Furthermore, in response to the First Appeal dated 19.04.2024 of Appellant, the First Appellate Authority/ Joint Director (PO-I & Comp. Cell) in his repty/order dated 14-08-2024, after thoroughly examined, has also found the information provided by the CPIG/US/Comp.) is correct and in order. Further, through this said reply/order, FAA has also reiterated & highlighted that this Department with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC) (Technical Partner) & with the help of State/UTs Govts. enables the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) transactions of Ration Cards. There are no NFSA beneficiaries registered as ONORC in the database. The implementation of ONORC on ground level is under the jurisdiction of respective State/UT Govts. Further, it is highlighted here that the custodian/ownership of database, in rio ration card holders/beneficiaries for ONORC transactions, is with the concerned State/UT Government. Therefore, appellant was requested to seek the requisite updated information directly from the PIO, Food & Civil Supplies Deptt of the concerned respective State/UT Governments, as appellant has sought the specific information/query about the age of the beneficiaries i.e. 16 years (or more) and 59 years (or less) (copy enclosed). Further, it is submitted that under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) the operational responsibility, including Page 3 review/update the list of the eligible beneficiaries, rests with the concerned State/LUT Governments.
It is humbly submitted that the reply/order of the FAA which was delayed reply to First Appeal on the part of FAA, beyond the prescribed period of reply. In this regard, Hon'ble Central Information Commission is humbly requested to condone the delay. It is respectfully submitted that it will not happen in future..."
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Appellant: Not present Respondent: Mr. Ashok Kumar, US and Mr. Jai Patel, jt Director- participated in the hearing.
The respondent reiterated the averments made in their written submission and stated that the relevant information as available in their records has been duly provided to the Appellant. They apprised the Commission that the custodian/ownership of database, in respect of ration card holders/beneficiaries for ONORC transactions, is with the concerned State/UT government. They averred that the Appellant was advised to seek requisite updated information directly from the PIO, Department of Food & Civil Supplies of concerned respective State/UT government(s).
Decision:
Upon perusal of records and examining the facts of the case at hand, it is noted that the Appellant's queries had been appropriately answered by the custodian of information. Furthermore, written submission filed by the Respondent is comprehensive and self-explanatory. Thus, information as permissible under the provisions of the RTI Act has been duly supplied to the Appellant. In the given circumstances, no further intervention of the Commission is warranted in this case under the RTI Act. The appeal is disposed off accordingly.
Heeralal Samariya (हीरालाल सामररया) Chief Information Commissioner (मुख्य सूचना आयुक्त) Authenticated true copy (अनिप्रमानणत सत्यानपत प्रनत) S. K. Chitkara (एस. के . नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26186535 Page 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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