Central Information Commission
Shibichen Joseph vs Canara Bank on 17 January, 2023
Author: Suresh Chandra
Bench: Suresh Chandra
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
िशकायत सं या / Complaint No.CIC/CANBK/C/2021/607483
Shibichen Joseph ...िशकायतकता/Complainant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: Canara Bank,
Bengaluru ... ितवादीगण /Respondents
Relevant dates emerging from the complaint:
RTI : 12.01.2021 FA : 12.03.2021 Complaint : Nil
CPIO : 12.02.2021 FAO : 22.02.2021 Hearing : 29.12.2022
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
SHRI SURESH CHANDRA
ORDER
(10.01.2023)
1. The issue under consideration i.e. the reliefs sought by the complainant in the complaint dated Nil due to alleged non-supply of information vide RTI application dated 12.01.2021 are as under:-
Take necessary action against the CPIO as per the provisions of the RTI Act.
2. Succinctly facts of the case are that the complainant filed an application dated 12.01.2021 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Canara Bank, Bengaluru seeking the information which is reproduced as under:
"The complainant is a defence pensioner drawing pension through Syndicate bank Kaduthuruthy (4353) Kerala branch. An amount of Rs 142/- was debited from his Page 1 of 5 pension account against annual debit card charges on 29.12.2020. All the banks in India provide a free debit card services to Defence pensioners and he was also under this honour and privilege for the last 18 years under Syndicate Bank. When contacted the branch the responsible officer confirmed this rule is of Canara bank since its merger. Even his account balance for any quarter never went below one lakh even though this is not a criterion for the free debit card In view of the case the following may please be clarified. When approached through Canara bank grievance system no response received till date Account number is ********0385. Following may please be clarified:
i) Is the complainant as a defence pensioner eligible for a free Debit card services under Canara Banking services?
ii) Details of the Privileges and priories given to Defence Pensioners by Canara Bank.
iii) Details of any scheme for Defence pensioners like Defence Salary Package called DSP account in State bank of India The CPIO vide letter dated 12.02.2021 replied to the complainant. Aggrieved by the same, the complainant filed first appeal dated 12.03.2021. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) vide order dated 22.02.2021 disposed of the first appeal. Aggrieved by the First Appellate Authority order, the complainant filed complaint dated Nil before the Commission which is under consideration.
3. The complainant has filed the instant complaint dated Nil inter alia on the grounds that reply given by the CPIO was not satisfactory.
4. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 12.02.2021 and the same is reproduced as under:
"Information sought is in the form of question or query or seeking clarification in the guise of seeking information which does not fall within the purview of information as defined under section 2-(f) of the RTI Act, 2005. However, we wish Page 2 of 5 to inform you that for the details of our Bank various products/charges, you may visit our Bank website i.e. www.canarabank.com available in public domain."
The FAA vide order dated 22.02.2021 concurred with the views of the CPIO.
5. The complainant and on behalf of the respondent Shri Elango Subramaniam, Divisional Manager, Canara Bank, Bangalore attended the hearing through video conference.
5.1. The complainant inter alia submitted that he retired from the post of Junior Warrant Officer from Indian Air Force and drawing defence pension through e-Syndicate Bank. He stated that after amalgamation of e-Syndicate Bank with Canara bank, the bank had started charging certain amount in the name of ATM Card services and annual fee of ATM card from his account. He stated that he enquired about the charges deducted from his account but he could not get proper response from the concerned branch manager. Thereafter, he had filed RTI application seeking aforesaid information which was also not provided.
5.2. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that they had already replied that information sought was in the form of queries or seeking clarifications in the guise of seeking information which did not fall within the purview of information as defined under section 2 (f) of the RTI Act. However, after receipt of hearing notice, they provided the revised point-wise reply vide letter dated 28.12.2022 which is reproduced as under:
(i) "Canara Jeevandhara product is available for pensioners who have attained the age of 60 years and above. Under this product Debit Card issuance charge is free and free unlimited ATM transactions in all ATMs of our Bank.
(ii) The following facilities are provided under Canara Jeevandhara product:
i. Zero Balance Account ii. Debit Card-Free iii. Free unlimited ATM transactions in all our Bank's ATM. iv. SMS Alerts-Free Page 3 of 5 v. Net Banking-Free vi. NEFT/RTGS-Z remittance free/month. vii. Personalised Cheque Books-Name printed up to 60 leaves per annum free.
viii. Special Attention-Special attention will be given at the counters. ix. E-donation-Free to specified institutions. x. Loan facility (Pension account folder with us):
• Under reserve mortgage product as per norms. • Under Canara Pension product up to 10 times of monthly pension, max 2 lakhs or.
• Temporary Overdraft facility up to 50% of monthly pension on request after 15 days from last pension credit.
xi. Locker facility-For our pension account holders:
Allotment on priority subject to availability 50a concess1on on rent-if average balance of Rs.2 lakhs is maintained on annual basis.
25a concession on rent for others.
xii. Execution of Will-Assistance in writing of Will and Executant service at a nominal fee with full confidentiality provided. xiii. Personal Accident Insurance Cover (For pension a/c holder with us) up to Rs.2 lakhs is available subject to maintaining pension account with us or maintaining average minimum balance or Rs.20000/ previous year on anniversary date.
(iii) Canara Jeevandhara product is available for pensioners (Age 60 years 6 above).
All the facilities as detailed under point no.2 are ava1labte."
6. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both the parties and perusal of records, observed that revised point-wise information was given to the complainant vide letter dated 28.12.2022. The delay occurred in providing the information was inadvertent and not attributable on part of the CPIOs. There appears to be no mala fide on part of the respondent. In view of the above and the reply having been given, there appears to be no merit in the complaint. Further, the respondent is Page 4 of 5 advised that the bank officials must be sensitized to be polite while dealing with their customers especially with pensioners and should try to redress the grievances at branch level. The present RTI had arisen out of not resolving the complainant's grievance at branch level in spite of his several visits. In view of the above observation, the complaint is disposed of.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Sd/-
(Suresh Chandra) (सुरेश चं ा) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) दनांक/Date: 10.01.2023 Authenticated true copy R. Sitarama Murthy (आर. सीताराम मूत ) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26181927(०११-२६१८१९२७) Addresses of the parties:
THE CPIO CANARA BANK, RIA SECTION, RL&FP WING, HEAD OFFICE, JEEVAN PRAKASH BUILDING, 113-1, J C ROAD, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA - 560002 THE FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY CANARA BANK, RIA SECTION, RL&FP WING, HEAD OFFICE, JEEVAN PRAKASH BUILDING, 113-1, J C ROAD, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA - 560002 SH. SHIBICHEN JOSEPH Page 5 of 5