Central Information Commission
Mr.Manoj Pai vs Ministry Of Information And ... on 10 May, 2011
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/C/2011/000163
Date of Hearing : May 10, 2011
Date of Decision : May 10, 2011
Parties:
Applicant
Shri Manoj Pai
H.No.T15,
Sunrise Park Tenements
PO - Bodakdev
Ahmedabad 380 054
The Applicant was present during the hearing.
Respondents
The Public Information Officer
Prasar Bharati
O/o Director, Doordarshan Kendra
PB Marg, Worli
Mumbai
Represented by : Shri L.K.Chopra, CPIO & Sr. Director
Ms.Aparna Vaish, Appellate Authority
Shri M.S.Thomas, Supdtg. Engineer.
Information Commissioner : Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
___________________________________________________________________
The Commission directs the PIO to issue a circular to all staff in his office to be courteous to outsiders who
call the office seeking information under RTI and also to be more helpful.
The Commission also strongly recommends that the PIO obtain a copy of the said circular from the Prasar
Bharati regarding gender budgeting and to take appropriate action and to keep the Appellant informed about
the action taken as sought in the RTI application.
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/C/2011/000163
ORDER
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI Application dt.27.9.10 with the CAPIO, AIR, Ahmedabad seeking the following information pertaining to DDK, Mumbai for the period 2009 to till date.
"Complete details on the Gender Budgeting in your office DDK, Mumbai. This includes details on members of women's cell, facilities of ladies room including details on appropriate furniture, separate ladies toilet, crèches etc."
He also sought immediate inspection of these sites, which shall be made by citizens of the same gender, for whose benefit this facility is being extended. Shri Kamal Wankhede, ACPIO replied on 29.10.10 stating that information sought is not available in any form as prescribed under the provisions of Section 2(f) read with 2(i) of the RTI Act, 2005. He also stated that this Public Authority does not formulate any policy or announce decision including policy on Gender Budgeting which affect public and hence the question of proactive disclosure under the provisions of Sec.4(c) and 4(d) of proposed laws/policies and amendments thereto or to existing laws/policies does not arise. He added that the Kendra has already constituted a Women's Cell, being the Complaint Committee, under the supervision of the Centralized Committee for Empowerment of Women in Prasar Bharati, Directorate General of Doordarshan, New Delhi. The Committee consisting of ACPIO as Chairman and three other female members examine the working conditions of women employees at his Kendra. The ACPIO confirmed that facility of ladies room, appropriate furniture including separate ladies toilet have been provided on each and every floor and wing of the building. The ACPIO also invited the Applicant to inspect relevant records. Not satisfied with the reply, the Applicant filed a complaint dt.16.11.10 before CIC requesting the Commission to instruct Head of Prasar Bharati to ensure all offices have ladies room, crèche etc. Decision
2. During the hearing, the Complainant submitted that Prasar Bharati had issued a circular to all Kendras indicating a 10% gender budget allocation for improving the working conditions of women working in both Doordarshan and AIR Kendras. The circular also contains instructions on the facilities that should be provided in each Kendra . The Respondent however, denied having received any such circular and stated that if the same is made available to him, he would immediately take action on the same.
3. At this stage , the Complainant produced before the Commission the details of calls made by him to the office, in response to the invitation by the PIO to inspect the files and complained that the receiver of the calls in the office was not very supportive/encouraging. He was however unable to furnish details of the receiver. Be that as it may, the Commission directs the PIO to issue a circular to all staff in his office to be courteous to outsiders who call the office seeking information under RTI and also to be more helpful.
4. The Commission also strongly recommends that the PIO obtain a copy of the said circular from the Prasar Bharati regarding gender budgeting and to take appropriate action and to keep the Appellant informed about the action taken as also about the budgeting as sought in the RTI application.
5. The appeal is disposed of with the above directions..
(Annapurna Dixit) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy (G.Subramanian) Deputy Registrar Cc:
1. Shri Manoj Pai H.No.T15, Sunrise Park Tenements PO - Bodakdev Ahmedabad 380 054
2. The Public Information Officer Prasar Bharati O/o Director, Doordarshan Kendra PB Marg, Worli Mumbai
3. Officer in charge, NIC