Central Information Commission
Mr.Sanjay Kumar Bhattacharya vs Nsso, Lucknow on 24 April, 2009
Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/A/09/00337
Dated April 24, 2009
Name of the Applicant : Mr.Sanjay Kumar Bhattacharya
Name of the Public Authority : NSSO, Lucknow
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.23.4.08 with the CPIO, NSSO, Lucknow. He requested for information against 7 points related to a report on preliminary inquiry/investigation made by Director (NSSO), Hqrs.,New Delhi pertaining to anonymous complaints against certain officials of Regional office, Bareilly. The CPIO replied on 29.5.08 denying the information since the disclosure is not in public interest. He also quoted a CIC decision dt.14.6.07 in support of his denial. Not satisfied with the reply, the Applicant filed an appeal dt.16.6.08 with the Appellate Authority. The Appellate Authority replied on 12.9.08 stating that the Applicant has already been provided with the information including confidential ones in respect of third parties. He also stated that the Applicant has failed in declaring public interest involved and the reasons for the inapplicability of CIC decision dt.14.6.07 in his case. Aggrieved with this reply, the Applicant filed a second appeal dt.23.1.09 before CIC stating that information provided against his earlier RTI request was incomplete and reiterated his request for the information.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the hearing on April 24, 2009.
3. Mr. S.B. Singh, Director and Mr. S.K. Sengupta, Office Supdt. represented the Public Authority.
4. The Applicant was present during the hearing.
Decision
5. The Appellant stated that the documents supplied to him in response to his earlier RTI application have not been signed on each page although they contain the RTI stamp of NSSO some annexures are still missing. The Respondents stated that annexures were not provided since some of them are are third party information..
After hearing both parties, the Commission directs the CPIO to certify the information provided earlier and also to provide the Appellant all the annexures relevant to him while using the severability clause under Section 10(i) of the RTI Act by removing those portions which are exempt from disclosure . The information to be provided within 20 days of date of issue of this Order.
6. The appeal is disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy:
(G.Subramanian) Asst. Registrar Cc:
1. Mr.Sanjay Kumar Bhattacharya Superintendent NSSO (FOD) Vikas Jyoti, 2nd Floor BDA Complex Priyadarshini Nagar Bareily 243 122
2. Mr.A.K.Mathur The CPIO & DDG (CZ) FOD Sarvekshana Bhavan INS-IV, Sector-11 Ring Road, Vikas Nagar Lucknow 226 022
3. Mr.P.K.Ravi The Appellate Authority & DG & CEO (NSSO) M/o Statistics & Prog. Implementation Sardar Patel Bhavan Sansad Marg New Delhi 110 001
4. Officer in charge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC