Central Information Commission
Mr.B M Barik vs Ministry Of Defence on 12 July, 2013
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Room No. 308, B-Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066
File No.CIC/LS/A/2013/000787
Appellant Shri B.M. Barik
Public Authority Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata.
Dates of hearing 10th & 12th July, 2013
Date of decision 12th July, 2013
Facts :-
This matter is fixed for hearing on 12.7.2013. Shri Ganguly, JWM and Shri Anirudh Sengupta, Chargeman, who are present in the Commission in connection with some other matter request the Commission to hear them in this matter so that they do not have to appear before the Commission again. Their request is accepted and they are heard.
2. In the RTI application dated 27.8.2012, the appellant had sought the following information :-
"(a) Number of direct recruited Chargeman, Junior Works Manager(separately : all discipline) recruited in Ordnance Factories from 01.01.2002 to 31.07.2012.
(b) Number of direct recruited Chargeman, Junior Works Manager separately (all discipline) resigned or quitted from the service in ordnance factories from 01.01.2002 to 31.07.2012.
(c) Minimum qualification for a supervisor(Chargeman) to supervise the manufacture of Hazardous chemical/Explosive.
(d) Whether all the Chargeman(Tech/Chem.) posted in A&E group of factories are possessing the minimum qualification as mentioned in the Explosive Rule 2008 published in THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY (Part II
- Sec.3(i) MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion).
(e) Is there any exception in the above mentioned rule position ? If so, kindly furnish the copy of same."
3. The CPIO had responded to it vide letter dated 7.9.2012. During the hearing, the above named officers submit that OFB maintains information only about JWMs and not about Chargemen and information about JWMs has already been supplied to the appellant.
4. However, in the appeal memo, the appellant has shown his dissatisfaction with information supplied on para (d). The above named officers submit that the answer to the query raised in para (d) lies in the reply given in response to para (c) of the RTI application. In other words, the minimum qualification for the supervisor has been mentioned in reply to para (c) of the RTI application.
5. Yet another issue raised by the appellant is that his query (e) has not been responded to by the CPIO. The above named officers submit that OFB runs 42 Ordnance Factories and employs thousands of workers and executives. If any expenditure has been made, it must be at the Factory level and OFB, as Corporate Body, does not maintain this information.
6. The appellant has spoken to me on telephone on 12th July. It is his say that the chargemen in the following Factories are not having the prescribed qualification thereby endangering their own life as also that of others - viz :
• Cordite Factory, Arunankdu; • Ordnance Factory, Itarasi; and • Ordnance Factory, Bhandara.
7. In view of the above, Shri Ganguly, JWM, is hereby directed to collect the requisite information from the above Factories and inform the appellant accordingly in 04 weeks.
Sd/-
( M.L. Sharma ) 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.
( K.L. Das ) Deputy Registrar Address of parties :-
1. The CPIO, Ministry of Defence, Ordnance Factory Board, 10-A, S.K. Bose Road, Kolkata-700001.
2. Shri B.M. Barik, Qtr. No. 1024/11, Type-III, C F Estate, Ayappa Avenue, Aruvankadu, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu-643202.