Central Information Commission
Pradip Kumar Prasad vs Steel Authority Of India Ltd. (Sail) on 2 September, 2021
Author: Neeraj Kumar Gupta
Bench: Neeraj Kumar Gupta
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/SAIL1/A/2019/159737
Mr. Pradip Kumar Prasad ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO ... ितवादी /Respondent
Steel Authority of India Limited
Durgapur Steel Plant, 1st Floor,
Ispat Bhawan, Durganpur, W.B-
713203
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:-
RTI : 17-06-2019 FA : 09-08-2019 SA : 11-12-2019
CPIO : 20-07-2019 FAO : 06-09-2019 Hearing : 19-08-2021
ORDER
1. The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) Steel Authority of India Limited, Durgapur. The appellant seeking information on five points, including, inter-alia as under:-
"i. How many complaints regarding low water supply to Qtr. No. 13/11, Rana Pratap Road, A-Zone was lodged in the maintenance Office, A- Zone during May & June, 2018.
ii. What actions were taken on those complaints? Please provide the information in the given tabular format (as given in the RTI application)".
Etc.
2. As the CPIO had not provided the requested information, the appellant filed the first appeal dated 09.08.2019 requesting that the information should be provided to him. The first appellate authority vide its order dated 06.09.2019 furnished additional information to the appellant and disposed of his first appeal. Thereafter the appellant filed a second appeal u/Section 19(3) of the RTI Act before the Commission on the ground that information has not been Page 1 of 3 provided to him and requested the Commission to direct the respondent to provide complete and correct information.
Hearing:
3. The appellant attended the hearing through audio-call. The respondent, Shri S. Mathur, General Manager (Personal)/ CPIO attended the hearing through audio-call.
4. The appellant submitted that complete and correct information has not been provided to him by the respondent on his RTI application dated 17.06.2019.
5. The respondent while reiterating the replies of the CPIO/ FAA submitted that vide their letter dated 20.07.2019, they have furnished a point-wise reply to the appellant as per the documents available on record. The FAA vide its order dated 06.09.2019 has further furnished additional information to the appellant.
Decision:
6. The Commission, after hearing the submissions of both the parties and after perusal of records, observes that the information sought is generic in nature and relates to multiple files, locations, etc., which is voluminous in nature and is not readily available with the CPIO in the manner as sought by the appellant, collating and compiling of which would disproportionately divert the resources of the respondent organization. . The Commission further observes that instead of seeking specific information, the Appellant is expecting the public authority to give the information in a tabular form which does not exist in material form. Nonetheless, the CPIO vide its reply dated 20.07.2019 has already provided a point-wise reply to the appellant beyond the scope of the RTI Act, 2005. More so, the FAA vide its order dated 06.09.2019 has also furnished a detailed order meeting the expectation of the Act.
7. In this regard, the Commission referred to the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Central Board of Secondary Education and Anr. Vs. Aditya Bandopadhyay and Ors, SLP(C) NO. 7526/2009 wherein it was held as under:
"Indiscriminate and impractical demands or directions under RTI Act for disclosure of all and sundry information (unrelated to transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities and eradication of corruption) would be counterproductive as it will adversely affect the efficiency of the administration and result in the executive getting bogged down with the non-productive work of collecting and furnishing information. The Act should not be Page 2 of 3 allowed to be misused or abused, to become a tool to obstruct the national development and integration, or to destroy the peace, tranquility and harmony among its citizens. Nor should it be converted into a tool of oppression or intimidation of honest officials striving to do their duty. The nation does not want a scenario where 75% of the staff of public authorities spends 75% of their time in collecting and furnishing information to applicants instead of discharging their regular duties. The threat of penalties under the RTI Act and the pressure of the authorities under the RTI Act should not lead to employees of public authorities prioritising 'information furnishing' at the cost of their normal and regular duties."
8. Based on the abovementioned matrix, the Commission finds that the appellant is trying to settle public grievance through the RTI Act. RTI cannot be used as a tool for the grievance redressal and hence the Commission upholds the reply furnished by the CPIO/ FAA and hence no further intervention of the Commission is required in the matter. For the redressal of his grievance, if any, the appellant is advices to approach the appropriate forum.
9. With the above observations, the appeal is disposed of.
10. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
नीरज कु मार गु ा)
Neeraj Kumar Gupta (नीरज ा
सूचना आयु )
Information Commissioner (सू
दनांक / Date : 19-08-2021
Authenticated true copy
(अिभ मािणत स यािपत ित)
S. C. Sharma (एस. सी. शमा),
Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक),
(011-26105682)
Addresses of the parties:
1. CPIO
Steel Authority of India Limited
Durgapur Steel Plant, 1st Floor,
Ispat Bhawan, Durganpur, W.B-713203
2. Mr. Pradip Kumar Prasad
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