Central Information Commission
Nanak Chand Lohiya vs Central Council For Research In ... on 31 October, 2018
के न्द्रीयसूचनाआयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबागंगनाथमागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नईददल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
नितीय अपील संख्या/Second Appeal No.CIC/CFRAS/A/2017/110050
Shri Nanak Chand Lohiya ....अपीलकताग/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
PIO/Asstt. Director & PIO,
Regional Ayurveda Research
Institute (Central Council for
Research in Ayurvedic Sciences),
Ministry of AYUSH
Through: Sh. R K Ahluwalia
Date of Hearing : 23.10.2018
Date of Decision : 23.10.2018
Information Commissioner : Shri Yashovardhan Azad
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 01.11.2016
PIO replied on : 09.12.2016
First Appeal filed on : 01.12.2016
First Appellate Order on : - -
2ndAppeal/complaint received on : 15.02.2017
Information soughtand background of the case:
Vide RTI application dated 01.11.2016, the appellant sought details of Research activities undertaken by the Institute alongwith technical notes, literature etc. under 3 points.PIO vide reply dated 09.12.2016 furnished point wise information against each of the three queries.
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed an appeal which remained unheard. Feeling aggrieved as dissatisfied, the appellant approached the Commission.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Both parties are present and heard. The appellant states that complete information has not been provided. He stated that people are not aware of the activities carried out by the Institute in the field of medicine. The appellant wanted to know whether leucoderma/vitiligo is treated in this Institute. The respondent states that detailed pointwise information has already been furnished to the appellant. The respondent further informed that treatment of leucoderma/vitiligo is carried out at their Trivandrum Centre. When questioned about the benefit of the Institute to the locals in Kumaon region, the respondent replied that the institute is providing the regular training on medicinal plants for the students, NGOs, researchers and forest personnel with the objective to conduct assessment of the distribution and availability of medicinal plants of North-West Himalayaand to develop need based technology for cultivation of saffron and other medicinal plants and to strengthen the local traditional wisdom on medicinal plants for their utilization in the field of scientific research.Providing further insight about the Institute, the respondent submitted that the Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) under Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India is a premier research institute in frontier areas for the research on medicinal plants of North-West Himalaya. The institute was set up initially as a grant-in-aid unit for survey of medicinal plants in 1964. Presently the institute has two herbal gardens located at Ranikhet (Almora, Uttarakhand) and Chamba (TehriGarhwal, Uttarakhand) for demonstrative purpose and small scale cultivation of medicinal plants of RET category. The Institute has a Herbarium (Acronym-RKT) holding more than 62935 herbarium sheets and 624 museum crude drug specimens belong to North-West Himalayan region used in Ayurvedic system of medicine. The Institute has also a Musk Deer farm at Mahroori (Bageshwar, Uttarakhand) for breeding in captivity. Treatment of various diseases through ayurvedic medicines for the local community, OPD was started from 5th May 2015 at the institute campus.
Decision:
After hearing the parties and perusal of records, the Commission finds the issue raised by the appellant involves public interest, particularly for the people of Kumaon region. It is essential that knowledge and awareness about such Institutes and their functions, outcome of their researches on medicinal plants are disseminated among people, particularly the locals of the region. Such knowledge sharing will benefit not only the community but also the Institute, in gaining better insight about the local medicinal herbs. In view of the deliberations during the hearing and in larger interest, the Commission thus directs the CPIO to furnish a Revised Replyclearly providing the information as shared during the hearing about the role, objective and functioning of the Institute in order to create more awareness among people. The Revised Reply may be provided within two weeks of the date of receipt of this order.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Yashovardhan Azad (यशोवर्द्गन आज़ाद) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्त ) Authenticated true copy (अनिप्रमानित सत्यानपत प्रनत) Ram Parkash Grover Dy. Registrar 011-26180514 / राम प्रकाश ग्रोवर, उप-पंजीयक