Central Information Commission
Mr. Prashant Singh vs Staff Selection Commission on 7 June, 2013
Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/SM/A/2013/000199
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 07 June 2012
Date of decision : 07 June 2012
Name of the Appellant : Sh. Prashant Kumar Singh,
CPWD, 3rd Floor, B Block, CGO Complex,
Saminari Hills Nagpur 440 006
Name of the Public Authority : Central Public Information Officer,
Staff Selection Commission,
2123, Lowther Road, Allahabad211002
2. Satya Prakesh, US & CPIO
Staff Selection Commission,
CGO Complex, Block No. 12, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi
The Appellant was not present in spite of notice.
On behalf of the Respondent, the following were present:
(i) Shri Satya Prakash, US (conf),
(ii) Shri R.N Mishra, Deputy Director Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
2. We heard the submissions of the Respondents.
3. Referring to his candidature in the Combined Graduatelevel Examination 2010, the Appellant had raised certain queries on the basis for selection of candidates for the post of Tax Assistant. He had also wanted to get his copy of the computer proficiency test. When he did not receive any reply from the CPIO, he sent a complaint to the CIC. In its order dated 14 August 2012, the CIC had directed the Appellate Authority to treat the complaint as an appeal and dispose it off in a speaking order. Following this, the CPIO wrote to him on 21 September 2012 and had provided the information for the first query. He had also observed that the information regarding the remaining two queries would be provided by the SSC headquarters. Needless to say, the headquarters did not provide him with any such information.
4. During the hearing, the Respondent representing the headquarters submitted that by the time he came to know about the RTI application, all the records relating to the Combined Graduatelevel Examination 2010 had already been weeded out and, therefore, there was no record available to be disclosed. The respondent representing the Allahabad regional office of the SSC also submitted that he had not received the original RTI application and came to know about it only when the CIC forwarded it along with its orders. Thus, the CPIO of the Allahabad regional office to whom the original RTI application had been addressed had never received it. We cannot particularly blame him for not responding to the Appellant in time.
5. Now that the original records relating to this examination no longer exist, all that we can direct the CPIO of the SSC headquarters is that he should send the relevant documentary evidence to show the date on which these records were destroyed. We direct him to do so within 10 working days of receiving this order.
6. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
7. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra) Chief Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied against application and payment of the charges prescribed under the Act to the CPIO of this Commission.
(Vijay Bhalla) Deputy Registrar