Central Information Commission
Amit Kumar Singh vs Csir-Cimfr, Dhanbad on 29 January, 2026
CIC/CMRID/A/2024/647205
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या / Second Appeal No. CIC/CMRID/A/2024/647205
Amit Kumar Singh ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: CSIR-Central Institute
of Mining & Fuel Research, ... ितवादीगण/Respondents
Dhanbad, Jharkhand
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI : 18.07.2024 FA : 03.09.2024 SA : 24.10.2024
CPIO : 16.08.2024 FAO : 08.10.2024 Hearing : 27.01.2026
Date of Decision: 27.01.2026
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
Shri P R Ramesh
ORDER
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 18.07.2024 seeking information on the following points:
"िदनां क 01/01/2023 से 18/07/2024 तक कोटे शन / पे ी ारा कराया गया िवधुत काय का स ूण ोरा िजसमे िकस िकस पाट / फम को काय आवंटन िकया गया साथ ही काय का भुगतान िकतना और िकस खाते म िकया गया । कोटे शन / पे ी म काय करने का िवभागीय ि या ा है ।
साथ ही कोटे शन, िकस िकस पाट / फम से माँ गा गया, इसकी ा ि या अपनाई गयी ।
इस स सुचना उपल कराने की कृपा की जाये।"
Page 1 of 7
CIC/CMRID/A/2024/647205
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 16.08.2024 and the same is reproduced as under:-
"आपका आरटीआई आवेदन जो िदनांक 19.07.2024 को इस कायालय को थानां त रत िकया गया है, के संदभम मुझे यह अवगत कराना है िक आपके आवेदन के वां िछत सूचना हे तु इस सं थान के संबंिधत अिधकारी को भेजा गया था। संबंिधत अिधका रयों ारा इस संदभ म एक (1) प ा की जानकारी उपल कराई गई है ।"
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 03.09.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 08.10.2024 observd as under :-
"िदनांक 18.07.2024 को आरटीआई आवेदन के आधार पर, सीपीआईओ ारा िदनां क 16.08.2024 को उ र िदया गया। हालाँ िक, द ावेज़ों के अनु सार, आपने िदनां क 03.08.2024 को एक अपील की है जो िदनां क 08.09.2024 को एए ारा ा की गई थी।
िदनां क 18.07.2024 को आरटीआई आवेदन के जवाब म, िदनां क 16.08.2024 को सीपीआईओ से जवाब म, आपने िदनांक 03.08.2024 को आरटीआई अपील की है जो एए ारा िदनां क 08.09.2024 को ा ई थी।
संबंिधत िवभाग से ा संचार के अनुसार यह कहा गया है िक "आरटीआई अिधिनयम धारा 8.1 (डी) के तहत खाता िववरण और फम को जमा की गई रािश जैसे वािण क िववरण का खुलासा नहीं िकया जा सकता है ।"
सके अलावा, खाता िववरण का खुलासा गत िववरण का पयाय है और जो िकसी भी के जीवन या शारी रक सुर ा को खतरे म डाल दे गा या कानून वतन या सुर ा उ े ों के िलए िव ास म दी गई जानकारी या सहायता के ोत की पहचान करे गा।
Page 2 of 7CIC/CMRID/A/2024/647205 इसिलए, 8.1 (डी) और 8.1 (जी) के अनुसार, मां गी गई जानकारी साझा नहीं की जा सकती।"
4. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 24.10.2024.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Appellant: Present through video-conference.
Respondent: Dr. Rakesh Kumar, CPIO/Sr Principal Scientist - partcipated in the hearing through video-conference.
5. The Appellant inter alia submitted that he had sought tender information and complete details of the electrical work carried out through quotation from 01/01/2023 to 18/07/2024, including name of parties/firms the work was allotted, the amount paid for the work, and the account to which the payment was made. Also, the departmental procedure for carrying out work through quotation. He stated that tender/contract related information should be placed in public domain. He averred that his queries are very specific and information can be easily furnished by the PIO and there is no need for any inspection of records.
6. The Respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the disclosure of information related to the payment made to firms and account details of the firms is exempted under Section 8(1)(j), 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act. Furthermore, the information sought is exempted under section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act.
Decision:
7. The Commission, after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both parties, and perusing the records, observes that the instant RTI application seeks contract-related information, specifically pertaining to electrical works carried out through quotations during the period from 01/01/2023 to 18/07/2023.
Page 3 of 7CIC/CMRID/A/2024/647205
8. The Commission notes that the denial of tender/contract-related information by the PIO is unjustified. Tender and contract-related information, which is permissible for disclosure under the RTI Act, 2005, ought to be disclosed suo motu in the public domain in the interest of transparency and accountability.
9. Transparency in tender processes is essential, as they involve public funds, and details regarding their utilization and transactions must remain in the public domain to ensure accountability
10. Voluntary disclosure of all information that ought to be displayed in the public domain should be the rule and members of public seeking information through RTI application should be an exception. An open government, which is the cherished objective of the RTI Act, can be realised only if all public offices comply with proactive disclosure norms. Section 4(2) of the RTI Act mandates every public authority to provide as much information suo-motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications, including the Internet, so that the public need not resort to the use of RTI Act. In this regard, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India recently in case of Kishan Chand Jain vs. Union of India & Ors., Writ Petition (Civil) No. 990 of 2021, vide its judgement dated 17.08.2023, has held as under:
"25. Having examined the Right to Information established by the statute under Section 3 in the context of the obligations of public authorities under Section 4, we are of the opinion that the purpose and object of the statute will be accomplished only if the principle of accountability governs the relationship between 'right holders' and 'duty bearers'. The Central and State Information Commissions have a prominent place, having a statutory recognition under Chapters III and IV of the Act and their powers and functions all enumerated in detail in Section 18 of the Act. We have also noted the special power of 'Monitoring and Reporting' conferred on the Central and State Information Commissioners which must be exercised keeping in mind the purpose and object of the Act, i.e., 'to promote transparency and accountability in working of every public authority".Page 4 of 7
CIC/CMRID/A/2024/647205
26. "For the reasons stated above, we direct that the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions shall continuously monitor the implementation of the mandate of Section 4 of the Act as also prescribed by the Department of Personnel and Training in its Guidelines and Memorandums issued from time to time. The directions will also include instructions under O.M. dated 07.11.2019 issued by the Department. For this purpose, the Commissioners will also be entitled to issue recommendations under sub-Section (5) of Section 25 to public authorities for taking necessary steps for complying with the provisions of the Act."
11. In para 1.1.1 of O.M. No. No.1/6/2011-IR issued by the DoPT on issue of guidelines regarding implementation of suo motu disclosure under section 4 of RTI Act, 2005 it is stated as under
"1.1.1 Information relating to procurement made by Public Authorities including publication of notice/tender enquiries, corrigenda thereon, and details of bid awards detailing the name of the supplier of goods/services being procured or the works contracts entered or any such combination of these and the rate and total amount at which such procurement or works contract is to be done should be disclosed. All information disclosable as per Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure's O.M. No 10/1/2011-PPC dated 30th November, 2011 on Mandatory Publication of Tender Enquiries on the Central Public Procurement Portal and O.M. No. 10/3/2012-PPC dated 30th March, 2012 on Implementation of comprehensive end-to-end e- procurement should be disclosed under Section 4. At present the limit is fixed at Rs. 10.00 lakhs. In case of procurements made through DGS&D Rate Contracts or through Kendriya Bhandar/ NCCF, only award details need to be published. However information about procurement which fall within the purview of Section 8 of the RTI Act would be exempt."
12. Accordingly, the Respondent Public Authority is advised to take necessary steps for suo motu disclosure of maximum information on their website about name of Page 5 of 7 CIC/CMRID/A/2024/647205 successful bidder (name of company/firm) executing the work, amount for which the contract was awarded, amount paid to the contractor, completion date of the contract, scope of work, percentage of work completed from time to time etc, in compliance of the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act in order to promote transparency and accountability in functioning of the public authority, in the larger public interest. The Respondent is duty bound by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act to publish the information on its website to minimise the necessity for the public to resort to the use of the RTI Act to obtain the information. While proactively disclosing the information mentioned above, due caution should also be exercised by the Respondent to strictly adhere to the provisions of Sections 8, 9 and redact the same as per Section 10 of the RTI Act. A copy of this order be placed before the competent authority for necessary action.
13. In view of foregoing, the PIO is directed to examine the instant RTI Application afresh and furnish complete information to the Appellant within four weeks from the date of receipt of this order. In case any information is exempted under Section 8 or 9 of the RTI Act, the same shall be redacted as per Section 10 of the RTI Act. A compliance report in this regard shall be filed with the Commission within a week thereafter. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
(P R Ramesh) (पी. आर. रमे श) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy Vivek Agarwal (िववेक अ वाल) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26107048 Page 6 of 7 CIC/CMRID/A/2024/647205 Addresses of the parties:
1 The CPIO Chief Administrative Officer-(RTI Section), CSIR-Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research, Barwa Road Campus, Dhanbad-826015 (Jharkhand).
2 Amit Kumar Singh Page 7 of 7 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
1. It is recommended to publish following information or following categories of information in compliance with section 4(2) of the RTI Act, 2005- Successful bidder, Contract amount, scope of work, completion date etc Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)