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Mukesh Kumar Vaid vs Mcd on 15 January, 2026

                                के ीय सू चना आयोग
                          Central Information Commission
                             बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
                           Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
                           नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067

File No: CIC/MCDND/A/2025/111222

Mukesh Kumar Vaid                                      .....अपीलकता/Appellant


                                        VERSUS
                                         बनाम

PIO,
PIO under RTI
Asst. Commissioner-Civil
Lines, Municipal Corporation
of Delhi, Zonal Office, Civil
Line Zone, 16--Rajpur Road,
Kamla Nehru Ridge, Delhi-110054                       ..... ितवादीगण /Respondent

Date of Hearing                     :    29.12.2025
Date of Decision                    :    12.01.2026

INFORMATION COMMISSIONER :               Vinod Kumar Tiwari

Relevant facts emerging from appeal:

RTI application filed on            :    29.11.2024
CPIO replied on                     :    02.12.2024
First appeal filed on               :    07.01.2025
First Appellate Authority's order   :    Not on record
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated          :    15.04.2025

Information sought

:

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 29.11.2024 (offline) seeking the following information:

"1. द ल नगर नगम स वल लाइन जोन म सफाई कमचा रय क हाजर के थान पर कमचा रय के बैठने, खाना खाने, शौच आ द हेतू कतने शै टर होम बनाये गये ह ? तथा येक हाजर पर कुल कतने दै नक वेतनभोगी सफाई कमचार / एवजीदार / रे गुलर पयावरण सहायक ह। कुल कमचा रय क सं या स हत जानकार द। तथा कमचा रय क हाजर पर बनाये गये शै टर होम क फोटो व कतने Sq Feet म (कमरा) शै टर होम बनाया गया है , त वाड त हाजर के पते स हत जानकार द।"

2. The PIO, MCD, O/o the Deputy Commissioner, Shahdara (south) Zone vide letter dated 02.12.2024 transferred the RTI application to the PIO/AC (DEMS) Civil Line Zone under section 6 (3) for furnishing the information to the Applicant under information to the undersigned as per the provision of RTI Act 2005.

3. Not having received any information from the PIO/AC (DEMS), Civil Lines Zone, MCD, Delhi, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 07.01.2025. The FAA's order is not on record.

4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.

Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:

The following were present:-

Appellant: He, along with Ms. Payal appeared in person. Respondent: Shri Ravinder, Senior Secretariate Assistant, appeared in person.

5. Proof of having served a copy of Second Appeal/Complaint on Respondent while filing the same in CIC on 15.04.2025 is not available on record. The Respondent confirmed non-service.

6. The Appellant inter alia submitted that information sought was not provided by the Respondent till the date of hearing.

7. The Respondent apologised for the delay caused in furnishing the information to the Appellant. They sought additional 10 days' time to provide the specific information sought in the RTI application to the Appellant.

Decision:

8. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both the parties and perusal of the records, notes that the Appellant sought information relating to the availability of shelter homes for sanitation workers in Civil Lines Zone, including ward-wise, addresses, photographs, area in square feet, and category-wise strength of sanitation staff etc. The Commission notes that although the RTI application was transferred under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act on 02.12.2024 to the PIO/Assistant Commissioner (DEMS), Civil Lines Zone, no information whatsoever was provided to the Appellant till the date of hearing. Such inaction on the part of the Respondent authority amounts to a clear violation of the statutory mandate under the RTI Act.

9. The Commission further takes serious note of the fact that, despite due notice of hearing, the Respondent Authority deputed a very junior officer, namely Shri Ravinder, a Senior Secretariat Assistant, to appear before the Bench without any written authorization and without adequate knowledge of the facts of the case thus, failed to assist the Commission. This reflects a casual and callous approach towards the proceedings of the Commission and undermines the authority of this statutory body.

10. In view of the above, Shri Ravi Goel, the present PIO/Assistant Commissioner, and Shri Savplin Singh Thakur, the then PIO (as on 02.12.2024), are Show Caused to explain as to why maximum penalty under section 20 (1) of the RTI Act should not be imposed upon each of them for not providing the information and for not appearing before the Commission despite notice. The present PIO is given responsibility to serve a copy of this order as well as show cause notice to the then PIO and secure his attendance on the next date of hearing and also submit their written explanations. All the written explanations (from both the PIOs) must reach the Commission within CIC/MCDND/A/2025/111222 Page 3 of 5 four weeks from the date of receipt of this order, failing which the matter shall be decided ex parte on the basis of material available on record.

11. Simultaneously, the Commission directs the Respondent authority to furnish the information to the Appellant as per the provisions of the RTI Act, free of cost, within three weeks from the date of receipt of this order. In the event any part of the information is not available or not maintained, a categorical statement to that effect shall be furnished to the Appellant.

12. The Commission also directs the Respondent Public Authority to place the said information in the public domain on its official website, in compliance with the mandate of Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, 2005, so as to enhance transparency and reduce the need for filing repetitive RTI applications on the same subject.

13. The FAA to ensure compliance of this order.

The appeal is disposed of accordingly.

Sd/-

Vinod Kumar Tiwari (िवनोद कुमार ितवारी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) Sd/-

(S. Anantharaman) Dy. Registrar 011- 26181927 Date Copy To:

FAA, Dy. Commissioner-Civil Lines, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Zonal Office, Civil Line Zone, 16--Rajpur Road, Kamla Nehru Ridge, Delhi-110054.

Shri Savplin Singh Thakur, The then PIO, DC Office, Near Shivaji College, Rajouri Garden Delhi- 110027 Shri Ravi Goel PIO/Asst. Commissioner-Civil Lines, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Zonal Office, Civil Line Zone, 16--Rajpur Road, Kamla Nehru Ridge, Delhi-110054 CIC/MCDND/A/2025/111222 Page 5 of 5 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-

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