Central Information Commission
Aman Kumar vs Delhi Cantonnment Board on 15 October, 2025
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File Nos. : CIC/DCBRD/A/2024/111950
CIC/DCBRD/C/2024/112369
Aman Kumar .....अपीलकता/Appellant
....िशकायतकता/Complainant
VERSUS
बनाम
PIO,
Delhi Cantonment Board,
Sadar Bazar, Delhi Cantt-110010 .... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 09.10.2025
Date of Decision : 15.10.2025
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari
The above-mentioned second appeal and complaint are clubbed together as
the Appellant/Complainant is common, subject-matter is similar in nature
and hence are being disposed of through a common order.
CIC/DCBRD/A/2024/111950
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 18.01.2024
CPIO replied on : Not on record
First appeal filed on : 24.02.2024
First Appellate Authority's order : Not on record
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 17.04.2024
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 18.01.2024 (offline) seeking the following information:Page 1 of 10
"1. I as citizen of this country and as vigilant citizen concerned regarding misuse of public money by corrupt practices in award of tenders as well corrupt practices in execution of tender therefore, I want to seek information under the RTI Act 2005 as per detail below:
(a) Total number of suppliers supplying medicine to the Delhi Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(b) Total number of suppliers supplying surgical equipment's, surgical items to the Delhi Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(c) Name of the firm/supplier awarded work for supply of medicines to Delhi Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(d) Name of the firm/supplier awarded work for supply of surgical equipment's, surgical items to Delhi Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board
(e) Designation, name of Delhi Cantonment Board official/staff processing cases for procurement of medicine by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(f) Designation, name of Delhi Cantonment Board official/staff processing cases for procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(g) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(h) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(i) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.Page 2 of 10
(j) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(k) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board from M/s Army medical and General stores, Sadar Bazar, Delhi Cantt.
(l) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(m) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(n) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(o) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board from M/s Army Medicines by M/S Yash Enterprises Sadar Bazar Delhi Cantt.
(p) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(q) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items for Cantonment General Hospital Page 3 of 10 established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(r) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital. established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(s) Total no. of years Mr. Kamal employee was posted as storekeeper of Delhi Cantonment Board.
(t) Statement of CBI Inquiry against financial irregularities by Mr. Kamal employee of DCB as storekeeper (u) Status of CBI Inquiry against Mr. Kamal, employee of Delhi Cantonment Board for Financial irregularities.
(v) Total number of complaints received from citizen against Mr. Kamal, employee of Delhi Cantonment Board for financial irregularities.
(w) Total number of Complaint received from DGDE or Ministry of Defense against Mr. Kamal employee of Delhi Cantonment Board for financial irregularities."
2. Not having received any response from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 24.02.2024. The FAA order is not on record.
3. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
CIC/DCBRD/C/2024/112369 Relevant facts emerging from complaint:
RTI application filed on : 24.02.2024 CPIO replied on : Not on record First appeal filed on : Not on record
First Appellate Authority's order : Not on record 2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 19.04.2024 Information sought:
Page 4 of 104. The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 24.02.2024 (offline) seeking the following information:
"1. I as citizen of this country and as vigilant citizen concerned regarding misuse of public money by corrupt practices in award of tenders as well corrupt practices in execution of tender therefore, I want to seek information under the RTI Act 2005 as per detail below:
(a) Total number of suppliers supplying medicine to the Delhi Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(b) Total number of suppliers supplying surgical equipment's, surgical items to the Delhi Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(c) Name of the firm/supplier awarded work for supply of medicines to Delhi Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(d) Name of the firm / supplier awarded work for supply of surgical equipment's, surgical items to Delhi Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board
(e) Designation, name of Delhi Cantonment Board official/staff processing cases for procurement of medicine by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(f) Designation, name of Delhi Cantonment Board official/staff processing cases for procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(g) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(h) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.Page 5 of 10
(i) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(j) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(k) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board from M/s Army medical and General stores, Sadar Bazar, Delhi Cantt.
(l) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(m) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(n) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of surgical equipment's, surgical items through local purchase during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board.
(o) Total amount spent by Delhi Cantonment Board in procurement of medicines for Cantonment General Hospital established by Delhi Cantonment Board during previous five financial years and current financial year 2023-2024 for Cantonment".
5. Not having received any response from the CPIO, the Complainant failed to file a First Appeal. The FAA order is not on record.
Page 6 of 106. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant/Complainant: Not Present.
Respondent: Shri Kamal Kumar Verma, Assistant Superintendent and Shri Amit Kumar Mishra, Hindi Officer present in person.
7. Proof of having served a copy of Second Appeal/Complaint on Respondent while filing the same in CIC on 17.04.2024 is available on record.
8. Written submissions of the Respondent are taken on record and the same is reproduced hereinbelow:
"Kindly refer to your Notice No. CIC/DCBRD/A/2024/111950 & CIC/DCBRD/C/2024/112369 dated 23.09.2025 for the hearing of the Second Appeal under the RTI Act, 2005, which had been served for responding before you.
It is submitted that Sh. Aman Kumar, R/o 2A DDA Flats, Pocket B, Hari Nagar, New Delhi- 110064, dated 18.01.2024, had filed an RTI application by offline mode; on perusal of the RTI application, it is stated that a voluminous number of questions has been sought. The undersigned was contemplating inviting the applicant for inspection of records under Section 7 (9) of the RTI Act, 2005, as indeed the sought information is voluminous and was not in catalogue form. Before inviting, in order to ascertain the veracity of the appellant/applicant's identity, the undersigned vide letter No. DCB/32/SN/RTI/2024/A.K dated 08.04.2024, asked the appellant to provide a copy of their Aadhar Card.
After the lapse of more than one year, the appellant fails to provide his identity. Since identity has not been confirmed, the undersigned did not respond to the appellant for inspection of records. This office often receives fake, bogus, and anonymous RTI applications. After responding to these kinds of fake RTI applications, the reply so sent is returned back to this office."Page 7 of 10
9. The Respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that vide their letter dated 08.04.2024, they have informed the Appellant/Complainant that "Kindly refer your offline RTI application No. Nill dated 18.01.2024 vide which certain information had been sought from this office, in this context it is requested to provide your copy of Aadhar Card for verifying the veracity of the applicant, for further course of action at this end." The Appellant/Complainant has not provided his aadhar card for veracity.
10. The Respondent further submitted that they have physically verified the address of the Appellant/Complainant but no one with the name of Mr. Aman Kumar is residing on the said address.
Decision:
11. The Commission based on a perusal of the facts on record observes that the core contention raised by the Complainant/Appellant in the instant Complaint/Appeal was non-receipt of desired information from the PIO. The Respondent contended that they are in receipt of numerous fake RTI applications, therefore, in order to check the veracity of the Appellant/Complainant, they have sought his identity proof, but he has not submitted the same till date.
12. Now at the stage of Second Appeal/Complaint, the Respondent, w.r.t information sought, submitted that they were contemplating inviting the Appellant/Complainant for inspection of records under Section 7 (9) of the RTI Act, 2005, as indeed the sought information is voluminous and was not in catalogue form.
13. The Commission finds no infirmity in the reply and the same was found to be in consonance with the provisions of the RTI Act given at the relevant point of time. However, there is a delay in providing reply to the Complainant/Appellant on his RTI application. In view of this, the Respondent is directed to be cautious in future and ensure that reply/information should be provided to the RTI applicants within stipulated period as per the RTI Act.
14. Now, being a Complaint under Section 18 of the RTI Act, the facts of the case do not warrant any action under Section 18(2) of the RTI Act against Page 8 of 10 the CPIO as it does not bear any mala fides or an intention to deliberately obstruct the access to information as alleged by the Complainant. Here, it is relevant to quote a judgment of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the matter of Registrar of Companies & Ors v. Dharmendra Kumar Garg & Anr. [W.P.(C) 11271/2009] dated 01.06.2012 wherein it was held:
" 61. It can happen that the PIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the PIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. The legislature has cautiously provided that only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the PIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty on the PIO can be imposed...."
15. No mala fide was observed on the part of the present CPIO. However, should the Appellant/Complainant approached them with the relevant documents, he may be afforded an opportunity of inspection of records.
The above-mentioned second appeal and complaint are disposed of accordingly.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari (िवनोद कुमार ितवारी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स"ािपत ित) (S. Anantharaman) Dy. Registrar 011- 26181927 Date Page 9 of 10 Copy To:
The FAA, Delhi Cantonment Board, Sadar Bazar, Delhi Cantt-110010 Page 10 of 10 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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