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Siddharth Joshi vs Department Of Agriculture & ... on 14 August, 2025

Author: Heeralal Samariya

Bench: Heeralal Samariya

                                      के न्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
                             Central Information Commission
                                  बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
                             Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
                              नई दिल्ली, New Delhi - 110067

नितीय अपील संख्या / Second Appeal No. CIC/DOA&C/A/2024/656555

Shri Siddharth Joshi                                               ... अपीलकताग/Appellant
                                     VERSUS/बनाम

PIO, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation                   ...प्रनतवािीगण /Respondent

Date of Hearing                            :   12.08.2025
Date of Decision                           :   12.08.2025
Chief Information Commissioner             :   Shri Heeralal Samariya

Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on          :             05.09.2024
PIO replied on                    :             09.09.2024
First Appeal filed on             :             09.09.2024
First Appellate Order on          :             17.10.2024
2ndAppeal/complaint received on   :             18.12.2024

 Information sought

and background of the case:

The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 05.09.2024 seeking information on the following points:-

"Please provide a copy of the Study Report on the Evaluation of the Madhya Pradesh Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (price deficiency payment system) submitted by Institute of Economic Growth in 2018."

The CPIO, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation vide letter dated 09.09.2024 replied as under:-

"As mentioned in the guidelines for use of this portal, this facility is not available for filing RTI applications for the public authorities under the State Governments, including Government of NCT Delhi. Since your RTI application is meant for a public authority under the State Government, the same is returned herewith. You may file the same before the concerned public authority under the State Government."

Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 09.09.2024 claiming that since the study was commissioned by the Union Ministry, the Ministry is the actual custodian of information. The FAA, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation vide OM dated 17.10.2024 held as under:-

2. "It is to informed that online RTI application Registration No. DOA&C/R/E/24/01222 dated 05.09.2024 related to Study Report on the Evaluation of the Madhya Pradesh Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (price deficiency payment system) submitted by Institute of Economic Growth in 2018. It is pertains to State Govt. The subject matter was not pertains to D/o Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. As per guidelines for the use of the RTI Portal, transfer of RTI application to the State Government is not available on RTI Portal.

3. Therefore, advised to the applicant for file your RTI before the concerned public authority under the State Government. As per above RTI Cell of this Department had returned the online RTI application to the applicant. After the returned of RTI application of Shri Siddharth Joshi filed the RTI appeal dated 09.09.2024.

4. Ministry of Education D/o Higher Education is requested, if you have any information related to this subject may kindly provide directly to the applicant. It is also requested to forward the same to the concerned public authority, if it is not related to your Division. The RTI appeal and application is being transferred under Section 6(3) of RTI Act-2005."

Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.

Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:

A written submission dated 08.08.2025 has been received from Nodal CPIO, Director, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation reiterating the above facts and adding that:

the case has been re examined in consultation with the MPS Division in this Department and accordingly, a copy of study report on the evaluation the Madhya Pradesh Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojna (price deficiency payment system) by Institute of Economic Growth is enclosed.

The Appellant has filed written submission dated 11.08.2025 reiterating his request. Hearing was scheduled after giving prior notice to both the parties. Appellant: Not present Respondent: Shri Vinay Awasthi - Nodal CPIO, Director, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation was present during hearing.

The Appellant was not present to pursue the matter. The Respondent reiterated contents from the aforementioned written submission dated 08.08.2025 stating that information in the form of a copy of study report on the evaluation the Madhya Pradesh Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojna (Price Deficiency Payment System) by Institute of Economic Growth had been duly furnished to the Appellant, in terms of the provisions of the RTI Act.

Decision:

Perusal of records of the case reveals that the information sought by the Appellant has been duly sent to him from available records, in terms of the provisions of the RTI Act. The Respondent is directed to send a copy of the written submission dated 08.08.2025 to the Appellant with complete annexures within a week of receipt of this order. The Respondent shall submit a compliance report in this regard before the Commission within a week thereafter.

Since appropriate response based on available records has been duly sent to the Appellant and the Appellant has chosen not to contest the case, no further intervention is warranted in this case, under the RTI Act.

The appeal is disposed off on these terms.

Heeralal Samariya (हीरालाल सामररया) Chief Information Commissioner (मुख्य सूचना आयुक्त) Authenticated true copy (अनिप्रमानणत सत्यानपत प्रनत) S. K. Chitkara (एस. के . नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26186535 Page 3 of 3 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-

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