Central Information Commission
Yaspal Hooda vs Ministry Of Youth Affairs & Sports on 14 September, 2021
CIC/MOYAS/A/2019/148699
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/MOYAS/A/2019/148699
In the matter of:
Yaspal Hooda ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO, ... ितवादीगण /Respondent
The Bharat Scouts and Guides,
Office of the CPIO, Lakshmi Mazumdar
Bhawan, 16, Mahatma Gandhi Marg,
I.P. Estate, New Delhi- 110002
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI Application filed on : 03.06.2019
CPIO replied on : 19.07.2019
First Appeal filed on : 13.08.2019
First Appellate Authority order : 23.08.2019
Second Appeal received on : 09.10.2019
Date of Hearing : 09.09.2021
The following were present:
Appellant: Shri Yaspal Hooda participated in the hearing upon being contacted on
his telephone [video conferencing could not be conducted due to power/electiricty
failure in NIC Rohtak].
Respondent: Shri S.S. Ray, CPIO and Asst. Director participated in the hearing
through video conferencing from Central Information Commission.
Page 1 of 5
CIC/MOYAS/A/2019/148699
ORDER
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI Application dated 03.06.2019 seeking information on the following four points:
1) "वतमान समय म महामिहम रा पित जी देश क सीमा के अंतगत कस- कस संगठन/सं था के चीफ़ पै न ह
2) भारत काउ स एवं गाइइस िनजी सं था(NGO) ारा जारी कए जाने वाले रा पित पु कार माण प पर महामिहम रा पित के ह ता र कस िनयमावली एवं भारतीय सिवधान के अंतगत कन िनिहत शि य के आधार पर कए जाते ह।
3) भारत काउ स एवं गाइइस िनजी सं था(NGO) क थापना के प ात सं था ारा जारी कए जाने वाले रा पित पु कार के माण प पर महामिहम रा पित जी ारा ह ता र कए जाने क या कस सिवधािनक द तावेज के आधार पर आर भ क गई, संबंिधत द तावेज क स यािपत कॉपी उपल ध करवाई जाए
4) माननीय महामिहम रा पित जी को भारत क सीमा के अंतगत कसी NGO ारा जारी कए जाने वाले द तावेज / माण-प पर ह ता र करने क सिवधािनक शि ा ह इस संबंिधत जो भी िनयमावली एवं द तावेज उपल ध ह उसक स यािपत कॉपी उपल ध करवाई जाए। "
The CPIO, Bharat Scouts and Guides, New Delhi vide letter dated 19.07.2019, provided point-wise information to the Appellant. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 13.08.2019. The First Appellate Authority vide order dated 23.08.2019, upheld the CPIO's reply.
Grounds for Second Appeal:
The Appellant filed a Second Appeal u/s 19 of the Act on the ground of unsatisfactory reply furnished by the Respondent. The Appellant requested the Commission to direct the CPIO to provide correct and complete information as sought in the instant RTI Application.Page 2 of 5
CIC/MOYAS/A/2019/148699 Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
The Appellant stated that he is not satisfied with the reply provided by the Respondent. He further stated that the instant RTI Application was filed before the President's Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, which was transferred to the answering respondent on 24.06.2019. Upon queried by the Commission to establish the larger public interest in seeking the said information from the Respondent, he explained that he is a part of the Respondent's office and since there has been allegations regarding corruption that is being reported in media, he wants to unearth the same and bring in a change in the system/management.
The Respondent submitted that since the information sought at point nos. 1, 3 and 4 of the RTI Application pertains to the President's Secretariat, no information is available with them. He further submitted that the information sought at point no. 2 of the RTI Application dates backs to early 1960s, no document is available with them as on this date.
A written submission has been received by the Commission from Shri S.S. Ray, CPIO vide letter dated 31.08.2021, wherein he has reiterated the facts and circumstances of the instant case.
Decision:
Upon perusal of the facts on record as well as on the basis of the proceedings during the hearing, the Commission observes that the Appellant has merely uttered the term 'corruption' without any substantial proof. The Commission is of the opinion that anyone who utters the word 'corruption' or alleges corruption does not become entitled to get information. The onus of substantiating the allegation of corruption lies on the RTI applicant and mere 'perception' is certainly not a ground to agitate for right to information.Page 3 of 5
CIC/MOYAS/A/2019/148699 Be that as it may, the since the Respondent has averred that the information sought at point nos. 1, 3 and 4 of the RTI Application pertains to the President's Secretariat and that the information sought at point no. 2 of the RTI Application pertains to them, wherein the Respondent has categorically informed the Appellant that no information/document is available with them. Keeping in view the said facts and circumstances, the Commission deems it fit to direct the present CPIO to file an appropriate affidavit explaining the factum of non-availability of information as sought at point no. 2 of the RTI Application, to the Commission, with a copy endorsed to the Appellant, within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order.
With the above observations, the instant Second Appeal is disposed of. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
The Appeal, hereby, stands disposed of.
Amita Pandove(अिमता पांडव) Information Commissioner(सूचना आयु ) दनांक / Date: 13.09.2021 Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स यािपत ित) B. S. Kasana (बी. एस. कसाना) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26105027 Page 4 of 5 CIC/MOYAS/A/2019/148699 Addresses of the parties:
1. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) The Bharat Scouts And Guides, Lakshmi Mazumdar Bhawan, 16, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, I.P. Estate, New Delhi- 110002
2. The Central Public Information Officer The Bharat Scouts And Guides, Office Of The CPIO Lakshmi Mazumdar Bhawan, 16, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, I.P. Estate, New Delhi- 110002
3. Shri Yaspal Hooda Page 5 of 5