Central Information Commission
Mudasir Amin Shah vs Life Insurance Corporation Of India on 21 January, 2026
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
नितीय अपील संख्या/Second Appeal No. CIC/LICOI/A/2024/626265
Mudasir Amin Shah ......अपीलकताग /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: LIC ....प्रनतवािीगण/Respondents
Date of Hearing : 20.01.2026
Date of Decision : 20.01.2026
Information Commissioner : Shri Surendra Singh Meena
Relevant Facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application : 11.03.2024
PIO replied on : 08.04.2024
First Appeal filed on : 30.04.2024
First Appeal Order on : 15.05.2024
2nd Appeal received on : Not on Record
CIC/LICOI/A/2024/626265 Page 1 of 6
Information soughtand background of the case:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 11.03.2024 seeking information on the following points:
"Application on behalf of Mudasir Amin Shah S/O Mohammad Amin Shah R/O Dangerpora Pulwama for providing information of all Roasters of club members of Branch Pulwama w.e.f. 01/04/2006 to 01/04/2020 and also copies of N.B. Vouchers may be provided from 01/01/2018 to 31/03/2019 and also information may be provided regarding the RCA agencies engaged by the said branch and also their number may be provided to the applicant Development officer wise."
The CPIO replied vide letter dated 08.04.2024 and the same is reproduced as under:-
"1. As per deemed CPIO, the destruction of old record had been made as per the corporate guidelines. Hence the information is not available.
2. Reply:- Information regarding copy of NB vouchers from 01/01/2018 to 31/03/2019 is denied as per section 8(1)(d) 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(j) of RTI act 2005. As per section 8(1)(d) the Information include commercial confidence, trade secrets and the intellectual property of the corporation, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of third party. As per section 8(1)(e) information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship and cannot be shared. per section 8(1)(l) of RTI act 2005, information relates to personal information the disclosure of it would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.
3. As per information required for the RCA agencies engaged by the Branch Office Pulwama, we may inform that the BO had 11 Inforce RCA,s as on date recruited by different DO,S/CLIA,s. The information regarding RCA, S engaged Development Officer wise is denied as per section 8(1)(d), 8(1) e) and 8(1)(j) of RTI act 2005. As per section 8(1)(d) the information include commercial confidence, trade secrets and the intellectual property of the corporation, the of which would harm the competitive position of third party. As per 8(1)(e) information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship. As per section 8(1)(l) of RTI act 2005, Information CIC/LICOI/A/2024/626265 Page 2 of 6 which relates to personal information the disclosure of which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual."
Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 30.04.2024 alleging that the information provided was not provided. The FAA vide order dated 15.05.2024 stated as under:-
"I have gone through your RTI application dated 11.03.2024, reply of CPIO vide letter ref.no. RTI/2024/14 dated 08.04.2024 and your appeal dated nil received by us on 03/05/2024 under RTI act 2005. I uphold the reply of CPIO stands replied vide CPIO,s letter ref.no. RTI/2024/14 dated 08.04.2024."
Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
The appellant's advocate Ms. Farha Wani (Pulwama) was present through video conferencing.
The respondent Mr. Ramesh Kumar, CPIO and Mr. Amrit Singh, Administrative Officer (Jammu), were present through video conference.
The appellant's advocate, Ms. Farhanwan inter alia submitted that the appellant has sought all Roaster of club members and the Rural Carrier Agent (RCA) of Pulwama branch, but the same was denied by the respondent u/s 8 (1) (d), (e) and (j) of the RTI Act.
The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that copy of Roaster of club members is not available due to destruction of old record as per LIC policy on Preservation of Documents. He further submitted that disclosure of information about the RCA would harm the competitive position of the organization and it also includes personal information of the Rural Carrier Agents, hence, denied u/s 8 (1) (d), (e) and (j) of the RTI Act.
CIC/LICOI/A/2024/626265 Page 3 of 6A written submission dated 16.01.2026 of the respondent is reproduced as under:-
"A. The information sought under the point about club member roasters pertains to commercial confidence, trade secrets, and intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of LIC of India for it being business. It is also informed to the appellant that club member roasters of the agents as sought are not available due to destruction of older record as per LIC's policy on Preservation of Documents, Page No. 70, Item No. 8 of Marketing Department. The policy is framed in compliance with Regulations 9 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements, Regulations 2015, which deals with the preservation of documents for a listed company, therefore the information sought under the point cannot be provided. Policy on Life Insurance Corporation's Preservation of Documents states that "Rosters for Agents' Club Membership(for BO/DO ZO) are to be retained for two years after the expiry of Club Membership year to which the relate."
B. The query is not clear and specific. However, the applicant has not mentioned for which vouchers he has requested, vouchers are prepared for various payments. The disclosure of it comes within the purview of exemptions under Section 8(1)(d) 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(j) of RTI Act 2005. The disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of the corporation for it being business organization. Also, it has no relationship to any public activity or interest, and it would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individuals. The data of individual policies is acquired in the corporation under fiduciary relationship. Therefore, the information sought cannot be provided under Section 8(1)(d) , 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(j) of RTI Act 2005.
C. The information sought about RCA agents would harm the competitive position of the organization and Development Officers as it relates to commercial confidence, trade secrets, and intellectual property. The information sought relates to personal information of the RCA (Rural Carrier Agents) and the disclosure which has no relationship to any public activity or interest and it would cause unwarranted CIC/LICOI/A/2024/626265 Page 4 of 6 invasion of the privacy of the RCAs. No larger public interest justifies the disclosure of the information. Also, the information about RCAs is acquired by the corporation in fiduciary relationship. Hence, the information sought is exempted under Sections 8(1)(d) 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(j) of RTI Act 2005."
Decision:
In the light of the above facts and perusal of the available record, the Commission observed that the reply provided by the respondent vide letter dated 08.04.2024 on point no. 1 and 3 is not appropriate, since the respondent has not provided the copy of the guidelines for destruction of old records and evidence of destruction of concerned records as per guidelines. The names and periods of RCA's also cannot be denied u/s 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act. The Commission directs the respondent to revisit the reply on point no. 1 and 3 of the RTI application and provide a revised reply to the appellant. A compliance report shall also be furnished to the Commission within four weeks of the receipt of this order.
Accordingly, the appeal is disposed.
Sd/ (Surendra Singh Meena) (सुरेंद्र ससिंह मीना) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्त) निनां क/Date: 20.01.2026 Authenticated true copy Ramesh Babu Krishnan (रमेश बाबू कृष्णन) CIC/LICOI/A/2024/626265 Page 5 of 6 Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26105027 Addresses of the parties:
1. Mudasir Amin Shah S/O: Mohd. Amin Shah R/o 171, Dangarpora, Pulwama, J & K - 192306 Jammu and Kashmir, Pulwama, 192301
2. The CPIO Life Insurance Corporation of India, Divisional Office Cell, 18-A, Rail Head Complex, Jammu - 180012 CIC/LICOI/A/2024/626265 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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