Central Information Commission
Akshay Kumar Malhotra vs Union Bank Of India on 16 April, 2026
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
निकायत संख्या/Complaint No. CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250
Akshay Kumar ....निकायतकताग/Complainant
Malhotra
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: Union Bank of ...प्रनतवािीगण/Respondents
India
Date of Hearing : 15.04.2026
Date of Decision : 15.04.2026
Information Commissioner : Shri Surendra Singh Meena
Relevant Facts emerging from Complaint:
RTI application : 27.12.2023
PIO replied on : 18.03.2024
First Appeal filed on : 16.02.2024
First Appeal Order on : 21.03.2024
Complaint received on : 20.08.2024
CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 1 of 9
Information soughtand background of the case:-
The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 27.12.2023 seeking information on the following points:
"Now please inform me on the following points, which is related only to Union Bank of India, Shalimar Bagh Branch, AD Block, Delhi- 110088 (ΕΑΒ-21881):
A. For following information, please inform me in numbers only and not any person specific related to any 3rd party
1. Please provide me with the following information on various types / sizes of lockers as on end of day of 28.02.2023.
Sizes of Total Lockers Lockers Lockers
lockers number of rented out lying idle available
lockers to customer and which for rental to
installed in can't be customers
the branch given on as on end of
rental for day of
various 28.02.2023
reasons
Big
Very Big
Small
Medium
Etc etc
2. Please inform me the various types / sizes of lockers available (given on rental + vacant + lying idle for various reasons + others etc) with the branch from 01.03.2023 to the end of December, 2023.
Please provide the following information separately for each CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 2 of 9 type/size of lockers separately for information requested in all columns Month Openin Fresh Locker New Locker Lockers g application s Locker s lying lying balance s received vacate s idle vacant of during d allotted and and vacant month for during during which availabl locker locker month month can't e for at start be rental of rented month out for various reason s Till 29.022023 March, 2023 April, 2023 May, 2023 June, 2023 July, 2023 August, 2023 September , 2023 October, 2023 November, 2023 December, 2023 (Please note that both the formats given above are only an illustrative formats and I am to be provided with all the above information (mentioned in all the columns of the above mentioned format), as it exists with Union Bank of India. I have just given an illustrative format, which means that all the information mentioned in the format is to be informed to me, in whatever form/format it is CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 3 of 9 available with CPIO and which may be different than what I have illustrated above.)
3.When the lockers available for rental (as mentioned above) are less than the total available locker lying vacant, with branch then what is the reason for the same and since when these lockers are lying vacant but are also not available on rental due to one reason or other. Please specify the reasons for the same for all such lockers on one on one basis.
4. Please inform me the action (disciplinary and/or punitive) that can be taken by Bank, if concerned official of the branch doesn't follow the standard operating practice of intimating the customer about the availability / non-availability of the locker.
5. Please inform me and provide me with the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) related to lockers, right from receipt of application of request from customer for allotment of lockers to actually allotting the locker.
6. Please inform me the various types / sizes of lockers available (given on rental+vacant+lying idle for various reasons etc) with the branch from 01.03.2023 to end of December, 2023. B. For following information, please inform me specific and in complete details as information is related to me only and not related to any 3rd party
7. When I applied for the locker, at that time I was informed that my waiting list number is 25, even though branch didn't clarify that is it a waiting list number or serial number. Now please inform me that CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 4 of 9 as on date of reply of CPIO, what is the waiting list number of my locker request.
8. Please inform me the waiting list number of my locker request as on date of my request on 06.03.2023."
The CPIO replied vide letter dated 18.03.2024 and the same is reproduced as under:-
"The information sought by the applicant are as follows:
1. Total number of lockers in our branch is 240 out of which Big size lockers are 15, medium size lockers are 75 and small size lockers are
150.
2. Total number of lockers in our branch is 240 out of which Big size lockers are 15, medium size lockers are 75 and small size lockers are
150.
The availability of Lockers changes on daily bases. So It is not possible to provide the information
3. The action to be initiated by the Bank depends upon case to case basis.
4. Required information copy has been attached here (BLANK PAGE)
5. Total number of lockers in our branch is 240 out of which Big size lockers are 15, medium size lockers are 75 and small size lockers are
150.
6. As per the list available with the Branch the waiting number of the applicant is 3rd for the Big Locker.
7. As per the list available with the Branch the waiting number of the applicant is 3rd for the Big Locker.
CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 5 of 98. There is no locker which is lying vacant recently All the lockers of the Branch are already rented."
Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 16.02.2024 alleging that the information provided was not provided. The FAA vide order dated 21.03.2024 stated as under:-
"Aggrieved of non-receipt of reply within time limits, the Appellant has preferred this Appeal.
CPIO, RO, Delhi North, vide their letter no RTI/247 dated 18.03.2024 informed that the request of the Appellant was replied by the CPIO, Delhi North, vide letter dated 18.03.2024 providing the information.
On perusal of the request dated 27.12.2023, Reply dated 18.03.2024 of CPIO, RO, Delhi North, Appeal dated 16.02.2024 of the Appellant and comments of CPIO, I observed that the Appellant had earlier preferred Appeal bearing Registration No UBIND/A/E/24/00077 dated 28.02.2024 with respect to his request bearing Registration No UBIND/R/E/23/01909 dated 27.12.2023 seeking information on 24 points on Locker & his complaints etc. pertaining to said Shalimar Bagh Branch, Delhi, which has already been disposed of by this Appellate Authority on 12.03.2023 & communicated to the Appellant, vide letter OAARTIA: ZO(DEL):0790:2023-24 dated 13.03.2024. With respect to the present Appeal, I observed that CPIO has already provided the information sought. On the query of information sought by the Applicant in his format, it has been held by Hon'ble CIC in various decisions that information is to be provided in the form in which it is maintained. I further observed that since the Appellant could not be provided with a Locker by Shalimar CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 6 of 9 Bagh Branch due to non-availability, the Appellant is resorting to the RTI Act seeking information for his personal purpose & not for public interest, which is contrary to the spirit of the RTI Act. In this regard, we refer to the decision of Hon'ble CIC, New Delhi in Second Appeal No CIC/ SCOFI/A/2018/128650 between Pratap Singh Vs CPIO, Supreme court, inter alia, held that "RTI Act is not the proper law for redressal of grievances".
With aforesaid observations, I do not find any merit in this appeal to interfere with the reply dated 18.03.2024 of CPIO, RO, Delhi North. The appeal stands disposed of accordingly."
Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Facts Emerging in Course of Hearing:-
The Complainant was present in-person.
The respondent Ms. Titiksha Gupta, Assistant Manager (legal), authorized by CPIO, Mr. Raj Kumar, was present in-person.
The Complainant inter alia submitted that he has sought specific information with respect to total numbers of lockers installed, rented out, lying idle at the end of day i.e 28.02.2023 and opening balance of vacant lockers etc., but instead of providing correct and complete information, the respondent has provided very generic reply. The complainant further submitted that there was delay of 82 days in providing the reply. The Complainant requested the Commission to take action on the respondent under section 18 (1) (b), (e) (f) and 18 (2) and 20 (1) and (2) of the RTI Act for not providing the information.
The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 7 of 9 reply to the RTI application has been provided to the complainant vide letter dated 18.03.2024. The respondent further submitted that available information has been provided to the complainant. In rebuttal, the complainant further submitted that the respondent did not even reply on column nos. 2 to 4 of point no. 1. Moreover, the respondent did not enclose copy of the SOP as sought on point no. 4 of the RTI application. The representative of the CPIO during hearing submitted that CPIO will re-visit the RTI application and provide the information, to the complainant, in their revised reply.
Decision:
In the light of the above facts, the CPIO Mr. Raj Kumar, is show caused as to why action u/s 20 of the RTI Act, shall not be initiated against him for not providing correct and complete information to the complainant within the stipulated time.
The CPIO shall submit written explanation to the show cause within three weeks of the receipt of this order. With this direction, the complaint is disposed.
Sd (Surendra Singh Meena) (सुरेंद्र ससिंह मीना) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्त) निनां क/Date: 15.04.2026 Authenticated true copy Ramesh Babu Krishnan (रमेि बाबू कृष्णन) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26105027 CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 8 of 9 Addresses of the parties:
1. Akshay Kumar Malhotra
2. The CPIO Union Bank of India, Regional Office, Delhi North, 2nd Floor No 1 Faiz Road, Jhandewalan, New Delhi 110005 CIC/UBIND/C/2024/638250 Page 9 of 9 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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