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Central Information Commission

Urvashi Sarkar vs Embassy Of India, Washington, Usa on 19 October, 2022

                                  के   ीय सूचना आयोग
                         Central Information Commission
                              बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
                         Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
                          नई द ली,
                                ली New Delhi - 110067

ि तीय अपील सं या / Second Appeal No. CIC/EIWUS/A/2021/613741

Ms. Urvashi Sarkar                                            ...   अपीलकता /Appellant
                                  VERSUS/बनाम

PIO, Embassy of India,                                   ...   ितवादीगण /Respondent
Washington DC through US (RTI)
Ministry of External Affairs
Through: Shri Subhash Chandra Agrawal- RTI
Consultant

Date of Hearing                        :   06.10.2022
Date of Decision                       :   19.10.2022
Chief Information Commissioner         :   Shri Y. K. Sinha

Relevant facts emerging from appeal:

RTI application filed on               :   15.02.2021
PIO replied on                         :   03.03.2021
First Appeal filed on                  :   15.03.2021
First Appellate Order on               :   17.03.2021
2ndAppeal/complaint received on        :   15.03.2021

 Information sought

and background of the case:

The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 15.02.2021 seeking information on the following 16 points:-

Cornerstone Government Affairs in its filings with the US Department of Justice has disclosed that it is working for a Foreign Principal called The Democratic Party of India, linked to the Republic of India. Therefore, please state:

1) Is The Democratic Party of India a foreign political party registered by the Government of India?

2) When was it registered in the US and with which US government department?

3) What is the role of Election Commission of India in the forming and registering of the party? Who are the office bearers (Indian as well as American) of the Democratic Party of India?

4) State the address at which the Democratic Party of is India housed or registered.

5) What is the source of funding for the operations of the party? If it is Government of India, please state which ministry/fund. State any other sources, including in the United States.

6) Provide names of individual contributors in India and the United States to the party and amounts contributed.

7) What activities have been conducted by Democratic Party of India in the United States till date? Give details.

8) On what issues were these activities organized? Were they related to Article 370 and Kashmir, farmer bills and protests? Any other issues?

Give details

9) Provide names of US government officials, representatives, think tanks or other institutions contacted by the Party, or by Cornerstone on behalf of the party. Describe the issues on which they were contacted.

10) Give details of expenses incurred by the party- date, purpose, meetings, conferences, travel and names of individuals or organisations for which these expenses were incurred. Describe issues for which meetings were held and reason for travel.

11) What is the relationship between Cornerstone Government Affairs and Democratic Party of India?

12) What is the relationship between the Indian embassy in Washington DC and Democratic Party of India?

13) Share memorandum of association, manifesto, articles of association, any other official documents related to the Democratic Party of India?

14) What rules and regulations in the United States govern the Democratic Party of India?

15) Which ministry or branch of Indian government does the Democratic Party of India report to?

16) Is the Party affiliated to any political party in India?

The PIO/Counsellor (Pol), Embassy of India, Washington DC vide letter dated 03.03.2021 replied as under:-

Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 15.03.2021. The FAA, Minister(Commerce), Embassy of India, Washington DC order dated 17.03.2021 held as under:-

Aggrieved and dissatisfied,, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.

Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:

A written submission has been received from CPIO CPIO,, Embassy of India vide letter dated 06.09.2022 stating as under:

An n undated and unsigned written submission has s been received from the Appellant, contents whereof are as under:

Hearing was scheduled through virtual means after giving prior notice to both the parties. Both parties attended the hearing through video conference and placed reliance on their respective contentions as submitted through their written submissions and records mentioned hereinabove.

Decision:

Upon perusal of the records submitted by both parties and hearing averments of the parties it is noted that the responses sent by the Respondent are self explanatory and answer the queries raised by the Appellant, within the precincts of the RTI Act. In the given circumstances wherein reply as permissible under the scope of the Act has been provided, no further intervention is deemed necessary in this case, under the RTI Act.

The appeal is disposed off accordingly.

Y. K. Sinha (वाई.

वाई. के . िस हा) Chief Information Commissioner (मु य सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) S. K. Chitkara (एस. के . िचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26186535 Page 4 of 4