Central Information Commission
Mr.Mohd Aslam Alvi vs Ministry Of Railways on 26 July, 2010
Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/C/2010/000563
Dated July 26 , 2010
Name of the Applicants : Mohd. Aslam Alvi
Name of the Public Authority : DRM Office, Jhansi
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dated 13.11.2009 seeking information from the PIO, North Central Railway. He stated that his Conveyance Allowance for the period spanning over April 2002 to July 2003 and Travel Allowance from the period of May 2002 to July 2003 had not been approved by the Accounts Department, Jhansi. He had escalated the issue with the DRM and ADRM. The Applicant accordingly sought the following information in this regard:
1. Action taken in approving the Travel and Conveyance allowance for the aforementioned period;
2. Who is responsible for the financial loss incurred by the Applicant due to the delay in payment of such allowances since July 2003 till date?
2. The PIO responded vide communication dated 20.11.2009 rejecting the RTI application on the ground that the information sought did not fall within the ambit of Section 2(f) of the RTI Act 2005. The PIO further clarified that the queries of the Applicant were in the nature of grievances and the RTI Act 2005 had no provision for redressal of employees' grievances citing a decision passed by the CIC on 10.09.2009.
3. Being aggrieved by such denial of information, the Applicant approached the Central Information Commission on 07.12.2009 reiterating the sequence of events leading to the filing of the instant case before the Commission. The Appellant was sought to know as to whether or not information about the Departmental proceedings could be sought under the RTI Act. The Appellant further contended that even while rejecting the RTI application, was the PIO not expected to provide the particulars of the Appellate Authority and the period within which appeal against such rejection may be preferred.
Decision
4. The case was registered in the Commission as a Complaint under Section 18 (1) (e) of the RTI Act 2005. Perusal of the records of the case indicate that the queries of the Complainant do not qualify merely as grievances and can very well be responded to by the Respondent, atleast the query at point
1. of the RTI application. The Commission therefore directs the PIO to furnish necessary information about the queries against which records are available with the Respondent Public Authority by or before 28th August 2010.
5. The Complainant is free to approach the Commission in the event he is not satisfied with the information received by him from the PIO, under section 19(3) of the RTI Act.
6. The Complaint is disposed of on the above terms.
(Annapurna Dixit) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy:
(G.Subramanian) Deputy Registrar Cc:
1. Mohd. Aslam Alvi Assistant Regional Engineer (TMC) Line DRM Office, North Central Railway Jhansi
2. PIO DRM Office, Nort Central Railway Jhansi
3. Officer incharge, NIC
4. Press E Group, CIC