Central Information Commission
Rohit Malik vs Csir Hqrs, New Delhi on 7 April, 2026
CIC/CSIRD/A/2025/620194
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या / Second Appeal No. CIC/CSIRD/A/2025/620194
Rohit Malik ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: Council of Scientific
& Industrial Research (M/o. ... ितवादीगण/Respondents
Science & Technology), New
Delhi
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI : 13.01.2025 FA : 16.02.2025 SA : 04.05.2025
CPIO : 27.01.2025 FAO : 05.03.2025 Hearing : 25.03.2026
Date of Decision: 02.04.2026
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
Shri P R Ramesh
ORDER
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 13.01.2025 seeking information on the following points:
"Candidate want a copy of his question cum answer booklet of descriptive paper 3 of CSIR CASE-2023 (COMBINED ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES EXAMINATION) held on 07-07-2024.
Name- Rohit Malik Father Name-MS Malik Mother Name-Naveen Page 1 of 7 CIC/CSIRD/A/2025/620194 Application Number-10273428 Roll Number-336307694 Date of Birth-15/08/1993 Post Applied-Section Officer and Assistant Section Officer Category- Unreserved"
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 27.01.2025 and the same is reproduced as under:-
"..आपके िदनांक 13.01.2025 के RTI आवेदन के स भ म प रषद् मु ालय के स ंिधत सूचना के िन िल खत संर क से जो सूचना ा ई है , उसे म आपको ेिषत करती ँ :-
Recruitment Cell CSIR Hqrs.
Reply:- Annexure (A) Copy enclosed. (01 Page) इस कार आपके उपरो RT। आवेदन का िनपटारा िकया जाता है ।
Point 1: The candidate has requested to provide copy of the answer sheet under RTI Act. The information sought is sensitive in nature and the disclosure of such information may compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the examination system and disclosure could undermine sensitive process or violate the privacy of individuals involved. The Hon'ble Supreme Court vide its judgement dated 20.02.2018 in CA No. 6159-
6162/2013 (available at the link https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2012/32993/32993 2012 Judgement 20- Feb-2018.pdf) and CIC in its decision dated 02.08.2025 in the matter of Hemant Singh Versus UPSC in the case no. CIC/UPSCM7A/2023/647930 (available at the link https://descic.nic.in/cause-list-report-web/download) denied disclosure of answer sheets to the candidates of a racruitment process. Hence, information sought is denied under Section 8(1)(d) of the Page 2 of 7 CIC/CSIRD/A/2025/620194 RTI Act, 2005 and as per the decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and CIC as mentioned above..."
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 16.02.2025 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 05.03.2025 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.
"यह आपकी आरटीआई अपील CSIRH/A/E/25/00061 dated 16/02/2025 के स भ म है । आपकी अपील की मेरे ारा जां च की गई। अतः पाया गया है िक सीपीआईओ, सीएसआईआर के प सं ा CSIRH/R/E/25/00020 िदनाँ क 27/01/2025 को दी गई सूचना को दोहराया जाता है । इस तरह, आपके अपील संबंधी आवेदन का िनपटारा िकया जाता है ।
This has reference to your RTI Appeal No. CSIRH/A/E/25/00061 dated 16/02/2025. Your appeal has been examined by me. It has been found that the information given by the CPIO, CSIR by letter no. CSIRH/R/E/25/00020 dated 27/01/2025 is reiterated again. Thus, your appeal application is disposed of"
4. Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 04.05.2025.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Appellant: Present in person.
Respondent: Ms. Vandana Digvijay Singh, CPIO, Shri Sachin (ASO), Shri Harish Kumar, DS and Shri Anil Kr., US- participated in the hearing.
5. The Appellant inter alia submitted that the relevant information has not been provided by the PIO till date. He averred that the information sought has been denied on frivolous grounds.
Page 3 of 7CIC/CSIRD/A/2025/620194
6. The Respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that as regards the disclosure of answer sheet of the candidate, the issue has been already decided by the Apex Court in CA. No. 6159-6162/2013, titled as UPSC vs Angesh Kumar, dated 20.02.2018 and also decision of CIC in Second Appeal No. CIC/UPSCM/A/2023/647930 titled as Hemant Singh vs UPSC, dated 02.01.2025. They averred that disclosure of answer sheet is exempted under Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act. A written submission dated 10.03.2026 has been received from CPIO and same has been taken on record for perusal. The relevant extract whereof is as under :
It is kindly submitted that the aforesaid RTI application dated 11.01.2025 was received online in this office and diarised on the CSIR RTI portal vide no CSIRH/R/E/25/00020. Further since the matter was found to be pertaining to Recruitment Cell CSIR-HQ, New Delhi, the said RTI application was forwarded to Recruitment Cell CSIR-HQ by the undersigned (u/s). The Recruitment Cell CSIR HQ replied "Point 1: The candidate has requested to provide copy of the answer sheet under RTI Act. The information sought is sensitive in nature and the disclosure of such information may compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the examination system and disclosure could undermine sensitive process or violate the privacy of individuals involved. The Hon'ble Supreme Court vide its judgement dated 20.02.2018 in CA No. 6159-6162/2013 (available at the link https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2012/32993/32993 2012 judgement 20-Feb-2018.pdf) and CIC in its decision dated 02.01.2025 in the matter of Hemant Singh Versus UPSC CIC/UPSCM/A/2023/647930 (available at the link htips://dsscic.nic.in/cause-list-report-web/download) denied disclosure of answer sheets to the candidates of a recruitment process. Hence, information sought is denied under Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, 2005 and as per the decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and CIC as mentioned above, and the same was conveyed to the applicant vide CPIO reply dated 27.01.2025. in the case no.Page 4 of 7
CIC/CSIRD/A/2025/620194 Further, the Applicant filed first appeal dated 16.02.2025 which was considered by the First Appellate Authority CSIR HQ and was replied to vide FAA CSIR HQ letter dated 05.03.2025, wherein the FAA reiterated the response already furnished by the undersigned.
REPLY TO THE PRESENT SECOND APPEAL: As regards the reply of CSIR HQ in reference to this second appeal, a copy of the reply dated 05.03.2026, as furnished by the Recruitment Cell, CSIR HQ to the u/s, is attached herewith for kind perusal. (Annexure D) Therefore, in view of the factual position brought out as above, your Hon'ble self may kindly see for passing of orders as deemed appropriate.
1. The applicant sought copy of question cum answer booklet of Paper 3 (Descriptive Paper of Stage-Il examination of Combined Administrative Services Examination-2023) vide RTI application No. CSIRH/R/E/25/00020 dated 11.01.2025.
2. It is stated that CSIR issued advt. for recruitment of Section Officer/Assistant Section Officer through CASE-2023. Approximately 4.75 Lacs candidates applied for CASE-2023. The Stage-l examination was computer based test (CBT) and Stage-Il which consisted two papers i.e. Descriptive Paper and Computer Proficiency Test. The work of conduct of written examination was outsourced to Examination Conducting Agency (ECA).
The candidate requested to provide copy of his answer sheet under RTI Act. The information sought is sensitive in nature and the disclosure of such information may compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the examination system and disclosure could undermine sensitive process or violate the privacy of individuals involved.
Page 5 of 7CIC/CSIRD/A/2025/620194 Further, it is stated that Hon'ble Central Information Commission vide its judgement dated 09.02.2026 (CIC Notice No. CIC/CSIRD/A/2024/654937, applicant Sh. Vageesh) has already noted that "as regards disclosure of copies of evaluated answer scripts, the issue remains sub-judice before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court (UPSC v. Kavitha Panicker & Anr., W.P.(C) 17101/2022) and is presently stayed. Accordingly, it would not be judicious to give any direction for disclosure of answer script of the Appellant at this stage. The above comments/inputs may kindly be submitted..."
Decision:
7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, and perusal of records, observes that the Appellant has sought copy of his answer sheet of descriptive paper of CSIR (CASE 2023) for the post of Section Officer and Assistant Section Officer. It observed that Hon'ble Supreme Court in CA. No. 6159-6162/2013, titled as UPSC vs Angesh Kumar, dated 20.02.2018 has dealt in detail with the issue of disclosure of evaluated conventional answer sheets. It is further noted that as regards disclosure of copies of evaluated answer scripts, the issue remains sub-judice before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court (UPSC v. Kavitha Panicker & Anr., W.P.(C) 17101/2022) and is presently stayed. Accordingly, it would not be judicious to give any direction for disclosure of answer script of the Appellant at this stage. The Second Appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Sd/-
(P R Ramesh) (पी. आर. रमेश) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy Vivek Agarwal (िववेक अ वाल) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26107048 Page 6 of 7 CIC/CSIRD/A/2025/620194 Addresses of the parties:
1 The CPIO Under Secretary & CPIO, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (M/o.
Science & Technology), Anusandhan Bhawan, 2--Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001.
2 Rohit Malik Page 7 of 7 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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