Central Information Commission
Kunwarsen Dhangar vs Agricultural And Processed Food ... on 8 May, 2026
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/APPEA/A/2025/644241
Kunwarsen Dhangar
.....अपीलकर्ाग /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO : 1. The CPIO Agricultural and ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority, 3rd Floor,
NCUI Building, 3,Siri Fort Institutional
Area, August Kranti Marg opp. Asiad
Village, New Delhi-110016
Date of Hearing : 07-05-2026
Date of Decision : 07-05-2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Khushwant Singh Sethi
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 26-06-2025
CPIO replied on : 26-06-2025
First appeal filed on : 30-07-2025
First Appellate Authority's order : 26-08-2025
2nd Appeal dated : 19-09-2025
CIC/APPEA/A/2025/644241 Page 1 of 6
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 26-06-2025 seeking the following information:
"महोदय, प्राधिकरण अधिनियम, 1985 की िारा 4 की उपिारा (4) (ख) के अंतर्गत प्राधिकरण अधिनियम, 1985 का अवलोकि कर निम्िललखखत सूचिाएँ प्रदाि करें "Agriculture & Processed Food Export promotion Scheme of APEDA" for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) एवं Operational Guidelines के संदर्ग में निम्िललखखत जािकारी की सत्यापप छाया प्रनत प्रदाि करें ।
1- प्राधिकरण अधिनियम, 1985 की िारा 16 की उपिारा 1,2 के अंतर्गत आप की र्ूलमका पववरण प्रदाि करें जो निम्िललखखत ताललका में अंककत S.N. Component 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- 2025- Total 22 23 24 25 26 A Scheme Component
(a) Export Infrastructure 26.00 24.00 24.00 24.00 24.00 122.02 development
(b) Quality Development 9.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 41.00
(c) Marketing Development 50.00 48.00 48.00 48.00 48.00 242.00 Total 85.00 80.00 80.00 80.00 80.02 405.02 CIC/APPEA/A/2025/644241 Page 2 of 6 2- जािकारी ककसी अन्य कायागलय से सबन्न्ित हो तो अधिनियम के अिुसार आवेदि पत्र सबन्न्ित कायागलय को हसतांतररत कर इसकी सूचिा की एक प्रनत मुझे दी जाए।"
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 26-06-2025 stating as under:
"RTI REQUEST APPLICATION RETURNED TO APPLICANT as on 26/06/2025 Remarks:- Attached PDF File is not opening showing an error please re-upload the file"
3. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 30-07-2025. The FAA vide its order dated 26-08-2025, The FAA vide its order dated 26-08- 2025, held as under:
"1. मुझे उपयुक् ग त अपील प्राप्त हुई है । मैंिे अपील का अध्ययि कर ललया है ।
2. मैंिे जि सूचिा अधिकारी को उठाए र्ए बबंदओ ु ं पर आवश्यक जािकारी उपलब्ि करािे का निदे श ददया है ।
3. अपील का तदिुसार निपटारा ककया जाता 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: Attended the hearing through video conference. Respondent: Mr. Dhirender Kumar, AGM and Mr. Saurav Agarwal, AGM, attended the hearing in person.CIC/APPEA/A/2025/644241 Page 3 of 6
5. The Appellant submitted, that he sought information regarding year wise progress report of the respondent department. The appellant submitted that he had not received the sought information.
6. The Respondent submitted, that the pdf attached by the appellant could not be opened and the same was informed to the appellant on the same day vide reply dated 26.06.2025. The respondent also submitted, that the sought information is already available in their website.
7. Written submission dated 06.05.2026 filed by the respondent is taken on record and relevant portion of the same is reproduced below:
"This is with reference to the RTI application no. APPEA/R/E/25/00091 dated 26.06.2025 received in APEDA on 26.06.2025 from Mr. Kunwarsen Dhangar, Dist- Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh-243201. The application was returned to the applicant on 26.06.2025 as the question(s) in the attached PDF file was not opening (copy enclosed).
The information sought in the RTI application pertains to the Annual Accounts of APEDA for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
It is submitted that the information sought by the applicant is available on APEDA website as under
https://apeda.gov.in/annual-account-reports. Further, the information for the financial year 2025-26 shall be hosted on APEDA website once the accounts are audited by the O/o C&AG."CIC/APPEA/A/2025/644241 Page 4 of 6
Decision:
8. The Commission, after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both the parties and perusal of the records, observes that the sought information is readily available in the respondent department's website. Therefore, the respondent is directed to send the reply to the appellant incorporating the relevant website link, both by speed post & appellant's e-mail ID (as mentioned in RTI application dated 26.06.2025), within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order, under intimation to the Commission - both through post and via uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper- compliance/add. Accordingly, the appeal is disposed of.
9. Apart from the above, the Commission finds that the respondent had not provided reply to the appellant, within stipulated time limit. Therefore, the respondent is directed to submit detailed written explanation to the Commission for the aforesaid reasons - both through post and via uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper-compliance/add, within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
(Khushwant Singh Sethi) (खुशवन्त स िंह ेठी) Information Commissioner ( ूचना आयुक्त) निनां क/Date: 07.05.2026 CIC/APPEA/A/2025/644241 Page 5 of 6 Authenticated true copy S. K. Chitkara (एस. के. नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26107026 Copy To:
1. The CPIO Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, 3rd Floor, NCUI Building, 3,Siri Fort Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg opp. Asiad Village, New Delhi-110016
2. The FAA, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, 3rd Floor, NCUI Building, 3,Siri Fort Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg opp. Asiad Village, New Delhi-110016
3. Kunwarsen Dhangar CIC/APPEA/A/2025/644241 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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