Central Information Commission
Nitin Aggarwal vs Department Of Industrial Policy & ... on 15 May, 2026
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/DOIPP/A/2025/631548
Nitin Aggarwal .....अपीलकर्ाग /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO : National Productivity Council, ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
5-6, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi - 110003.
Date of Hearing : 14-05-2026
Date of Interim Decision : 14-05-2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Khushwant Singh Sethi
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 27-02-2025
CPIO replied on : 28-03-2025
First appeal filed on : 21-05-2025
First Appellate Authority's order : 16-06-2025
2nd Appeal dated : 15-07-2025
CIC/DOIPP/A/2025/631548 Page 1 of 5
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 27-02-2025 seeking the following information:
"Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, please provide the following information:
1. Certified copies of the official tour records of the Director General, NPC, for March 2023 and April 2023, including tour approvals, travel details, and attendance records.
2. Certified copies of the movement register or any other relevant document indicating the presence, absence, or movement of the Director General, NPC, on 28.03.2023.
3. Certified copies of the biometric attendance records of the Director General, NPC, for March 2023 and April 2023.
4. Certified copies of the complete file notings, noting sheets, and correspondence (including approvals) related to the processing and issuance of NPC Office Orders No. 884/Pt.1/2023, 885/Pt.1/2023, 886/Pt.1/2023, and 887/Pt.1/2023 dated 28.03.2023. Additionally, provide the date and time these orders were actually signed and issued. If these orders were signed by the DG, NPC, on a backdated basis, please provide the reasons for such action along with any official communication or approval authorizing it"
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 28-03-2025 stating as under:
"1. The information is not available with CPIO.
2. The information is not available with CPIO.
3. The information is not available with CPIO.
4. Compiling the information sought by the applicant would require disproportionally direct the resources of this public authority. The information is not provided as per provision of sub section-9 of section 7 of the Right to Information Act, 2005."
3. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 21-05-2025. The FAA vide its order dated 16-06-2025, held as under:
"Reply:- The RTI appeal was not received within the prescribed time limit of RTI Appeal. The appellant has also not given any reasons for the delay. This RTI appeal is time- barred. As per Section 19(1) of the RTI Act 2005.CIC/DOIPP/A/2025/631548 Page 2 of 5
Therefore, the appeal is disposed off."
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Attended the hearing in person.
Respondent: Remained absent despite receiving the hearing notice on 30.04.2026.
5. The Appellant submitted, that he sought certified copies of the official tour records of the Director General, NPC, for March 2023 and April 2023; certified copies of the complete file notings, noting sheets, and correspondence (including approvals) related to the processing and issuance of NPC Office Orders No. 884/Pt.1/2023, 885/Pt.1/2023, 886/Pt.1/2023, and 887/Pt.1/2023 dated 28.03.2023 etc. The appellant also submitted that the respondent had not provided the sought information. The appellant further contended that the respondent had given wrong reply for point nos. 1 to 3.
6. The Commission queried the appellant, as to what are the office orders mentioned by him in point no.4, and if the said orders contain information pertaining to him. To this, the appellant submitted, that these are promotion orders, and they contain information regarding his promotion and also other employees' promotions.
Interim Decision:
7. The Commission, after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the appellant and perusal of the records, observes that the sought information in point nos. 1 to 3 pertains to third-party. Also, the appellant CIC/DOIPP/A/2025/631548 Page 3 of 5 submitted that the sought information in point no.4, partially contains his information. Therefore, the respondent is directed to provide a revised reply to the appellant: point nos. 1 to 3 - claiming relevant exemption under the RTI Act, 2005; point no.4 - provide certified copies of the file notings, noting sheets, and correspondence (including approvals) pertaining to the appellant only, related to the processing and issuance of the particular NPC office Order related to the promotion of the appellant (out of order No. 884/Pt.1/2023, 885/Pt.1/2023, 886/Pt.1/2023, and 887/Pt.1/2023 dated 28.03.2023), after redacting third- party information such as other candidates noting portions/documents who had contended for the promotion, officers' names, officer's designations, signatures, witnesses' names, identities, addresses, or any other information that can reveal the identity of third-party persons, etc. in consonance with Section 10 of the RTI Act, 2005; provide the date when the aforesaid orders were actually signed and issued.
8. The respondent CPIO is directed to provide all the sought certified copies in the aforesaid revised reply by endorsing the documents as per point no.2 of the Office Memorandum dated 06.10.2015 issued by the Department of Personnel & Training.
9. The respondent is directed to provide the aforesaid revised reply to the appellant, within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order, under intimation to the Commission - both through post and via uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper-compliance/add.
10. Apart from the above, the Commission finds that the respondent remained absent during the hearing despite receiving the Commission's hearing notice on 30.04.2026. Also, the Commission finds that the respondent has wrongly denied the information to the appellant against point no.4. In view of CIC/DOIPP/A/2025/631548 Page 4 of 5 the above, the then incumbent CPIO & the current CPIO as on 14.05.2026 are hereby SHOW-CAUSED as to why penalty U/s 20(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 should not be imposed upon them for denying information to the appellant and for remaining absent for the hearing. Both the CPIO's are directed to submit detailed written explanations to the Commission for denying information to the appellant and for their absence to the hearing - both through post and via uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper-compliance/add, within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order. Accordingly, the appeal is reserved for further orders.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
(Khushwant Singh Sethi) (खुशवन्त स िंह ेठी) Information Commissioner ( ूचना आयुक्त) निनां क/Date: 14.05.2026 Authenticated true copy S. K. Chitkara (एस. के. नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26107026 Copy To:
1. The CPIO National Productivity Council, 5-6, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003.
2. The FAA, National Productivity Council, 5-6, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003
3. Nitin Aggrawal CIC/DOIPP/A/2025/631548 Page 5 of 5 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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