Central Information Commission
Hemant Dilip Mandole vs Indian Army on 1 September, 2025
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/IARMY/C/2023/116881
HEMANT DILIP MANDOLE ....िशकायतकता /Complainant
VERSUS
बनाम
PIO,
Armd Static Wksp
EME, Ahmednagar, PIN -
900476, C/o 56 APO. .... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 12.06.2024
Date of Interim Decision : 24.06.2024
Date of Final Hearing : 18.08.2025
Date of SCN Decision : 29.08.2025
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Relevant facts emerging from complaint:
RTI application filed on : 02.09.2022
CPIO replied on : 08.10.2022
First appeal filed on : 13.10.2022
First Appellate Authority's order : Not on record
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 10.04.2023
Information sought:
The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 02.09.2022 seeking the following information:
"1. वषया नूसार 13 न हे बर 2021 का आवदे न स ब धीत पर जो कुछ भी कायवार कया हो मुझे जानकार !ल#खत उ&र 'ा(त कर) ।Page 1 of 10
2. वषया नूसार 13 न हे बर 2021 का आवदे न आज तक स ब धीत लोक अथवा आव.दन आज तक कस के पास है ।
3. वषया नूसार 13 न हे बर 2021 का आवदे न के सभी सात पॉईट पु हास मा.हती 'धान करे ।"
The CPIO furnished a reply to the complainant on 08.10.2022 stating as under:
"It is intimated that reply has already been provided by this office letter cited at Para 1 (b) above in r/o your posting case which was also received by you in person on 28 Sep 2019. It is clear that this unit has not denied forwarding of compassionate posting cases, however due to 07 cases being already processed there will be sudden shortfall in manpower. Accordingly the same has been intimated to you. Since there is no denial of processing the posting case, it is not understood which policy/rule is required by you.
No information can be provided for any event occurring in future.
The query is not understood, the applicant is asked to elaborate for satisfactory resolution.
The salary for the applicant was deducted based on absent report received from his section.
The applicant is not eligible for special increment as he does not qualify the conditions brought out in DoP&T OM No. 06/02/2009-Pay-1 dated 18 May 2010 and hence the same was withdrawn."
Being dissatisfied, the complainant filed a First Appeal dated 13.10.2022. The its order is not on record.
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing on 12.06.2024:
The following were present:-
Complainant: Present through VC.
Respondent: Absent.Page 2 of 10
The Complainant stated that the reply provided by the Respondent qua the instant RTI Application is misleading as the Respondent has not provided the relevant documents to him till date.
The Respondent did not participate in the hearing as the hearing notice which was booked on 04.06.2024 has not been delivered by the postal authority to the Respondent till the date of hearing.
Interim Decision on 24.06.2024:
The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, and perusal of the records, observes that the Complainant has alleged that wrong and misleading information has been provided by the Respondent. As the hearing notice has not been delivered by the postal authority to the Respondent till the date of hearing, the Commission is not in a position to decide on the issue of mala fide intention of the Respondent as claimed by the Complainant. Therefore, the Commission finds it expedient to provide a fair opportunity to both the parties by adjourning the instant matter. Hence, the Registry of this Bench is directed to re-schedule the hearing in the instant matter to a later date. In the meantime, the Respondent is at liberty to upload his written submissions, with a copy marked to the Complainant.
The Complaint stands adjourned accordingly."
Relevant Facts emerged during hearing on 18.08.2025: I. The following were present:-
Complainant: Present through video conference. Respondent: Shri Gaurav Pratap Singh, EE/CPIO present through video conference.
II. A written submission dated 01.08.2025 (addressed to the Complainant) has been filed by Shri Vikram Neekhra, FAA, which is taken on record. Contents of the same are reproduced below for ready reference:
1. WHEREAS, Shri Hemant Dilip Mandole vide application dated 12 Jun 2025, had sought following information under Right to information Act 2005: -Page 3 of 10
(1.1) To provide a photocopy of DGSD (SD-8) IHQ of MoD (Army) letter No- A/3020/1/SD-8 dated 19 Jan 2011 under RTI act 2005 as first appellate is Comdt Armd Static Wksp.
(1.2) Seeking Information regarding details of complete name and post held and official address in r/o Public information officer and 1st Appellate Authority of Armd Static Wksp for the period from 01 Jan 2021 to 30 May 2025.
(1.3) Seeking Information regarding details of complete name and post held and official address in rio Public information officer and 1st Appellate Authority of Armd Static Wksp with regards to following cases of central information commission: -
(a) File No. CIC/IARMY/C/2023/116879,
(b) File No. CIC/IARMY/C/2023/116880.
(c) File No. CIC/IARMY/C/2023/116881.
(1.4) Seeking Information regarding official permission to file grievance in Central Administration Tribunal and in Human Right Commission.
2. AND WHEREAS, Public Information Officer at Armoured Static Wksp, Ahilyanagar vide their letter No. 21806/RTI/Civ/Est dated 04 Jul 2025 had provided the information available on the subject.
3. AND WHEREAS, aggrieved by the response of the PIO at 04 Jul 2025, Shri Hemant Dilip Mandole preferred an appeal dt 05 Jul 2025 under the provisions of section 19(1) of the said Act, stating that he was not satisfied with the information provided and as requested vide his application dated 05 Jul 2025.
4.AND NOW THEREFORE, after having perused all the records and after hearing, I direct PIO to provide copy of Civil Establishment Letter No. 21806/RTI/Civ/Est dated 01 Aug 2025 to the appellant.
5. The appeal is therefore accordingly disposed off."
III. In compliance of above-mentioned order of FAA, a revised reply dated 01.08.2025 filed by Shri Gaurav Pratap Singh, PIO is taken on record. Contents of the same are reproduced below:
2. Para wise information as sought vide your application under reference are as under:-
(a) Para 2(i): Letter is not held with this office hence cannot be provided.Page 4 of 10
(b) Para 2(ii): PIO-OIC Civ Establishment, ASW Address- Armd Static Wksp (EME), Ahmednagar Cantt Pin-
414002.
First Appellate Authority Commandant, ASW Address- Armd Static Wksp (EME), Ahmednagar Cantt Pin-414002.
(c) Para 2(iii): It is intimated that you have not sought any specific information as defined in Section 2(f) of RTI Act-2005 in your application under reference. As per RTI Cell, IHQ of MoD (Army) letter No. A/810027/RTI/Policy dated 16 Apr 2012 regarding guidelines for handling RTI applications, it is clarified that the term "Information" as defined in the RTI Act-2005 does not include answers to the question like why, what, when how and whether amounting to seeking reasoning/ clarification/ interpretations, drawing inferences. Public authority is not expected to communicate to the citizen to the question seeking comments, answered and interpretations.
(d) Para 2(iv): No such permission is required as per Ministry of Home Affairs letter No. F/25/3/59-Ests. (A) dt 21st April 1959. Note: Copy of any of the above cited letter will be charge Rs. 02/- each copy."
IV. An additional written submission dated 21.08.2025 (copy marked to the Complainant) has been filed by Shri Gaurav Pratap Singh, PIO which is taken on record. Contents of the same are reproduced below for ready reference:
"1. Pl refer CIC notice for hearing File No. CIC/IARMY/C/2023/116880.
2. It is submitted that CIC notice No. CIC/IARMY/C/2023/116880 for hearing on 12 Jun 2024 received in this office on 16 Jul 2024 after the date of hearing, hence the hearing could not be attended.
3. This is for your info."
V. A written submission dated Nil filed by the Complainant is taken on record. The Complainant during hearing reiterated the contents of his written submission wherein he inter alia pleaded as under:
Page 5 of 10"म4 िजस .दन से आवेदन कया है उसे .दन से जन सूचना अ7धकार आ!सफ शर फ साहब civil established एFजीGय.ू टव इंजीJनयर और संबं7धत Gलक !सराज पटे ल (जन सूचना अ7धकार सहायक Gलक) और इनके पता K.T पटे ल तरह-तरह के धमकR दे कर रहे ह4 आवेदन पीछे लेने के !लए हर 'यास कर रहे ह4।
वSम नीखरा (कनल कमांड)ट 'थम अपील य 'ा7धकार ) गौरव 'ताप !संह (कायपालक अ!भयंता लोक सूचना अ7धकार ) पूव अ7धकार आ!सफ शर फ (कायपालक अ!भयंता लोक सूचना अ7धकार ) !सराज कमWXद न पटे ल (लोक सूचना अ7धकार सहायक) !सराज कमWXद न पटे ल (लोक सूचना अ7धकार सहायक) इनके पता कमWXद न ताजुXद न पटे ल क)Y य मा.हती आयोग म) जो केस चल रहा है उसके कसी तरह से पीछे लेने के !लए। बहुत 'ेशर राइट दबाव बनाया जा रहा है ।
मुझे मुझे आपसे अनुरोध है क संब7ं धत पूव अ7धकार आ!सफ शर फ (कायपालक अ!भयंता लोक सूचना अ7धकार ) !सराज कमWXद न पटे ल (लोक सूचना अ7धकार सहायक) धारा 20 (1) (2) के अनुसार के तहत कारवाई होनी चा.हए आपसे न] वनती है।
File No :- 1) CIC/IARMY/C/116879
2) CIC/IARMY/C/116880
3) CIC/IARMY/C/116881 .दनांक 12-06-2024 को .हयoरंग होने के बाद दस ू रे .दन मुझे ऑ फस म) बुलाया गया Vikram Neekhra (Col Commandant 1 st Appellate Authority Page 6 of 10 Armoured Static workchon CME ऑ फस म) बुलाया गया Vikram Neekhra (Col Commandant 1 st Appellate Authority Armoured Static workshop EME Ahilyanagar) संबं7धत Gलाक !शराज पटे ल (जन मा.हती अ7धकार सहायक) 'थम अपील अ7धकार मझ ु े कैसे पीछे लेने के !लए तरह-तरह से धमकR दे ने लगे और वहां पर खड़े हुए !सराज पटे ल मेरे स वस oरकॉड लेकर खड़े थे। म4 कसी 'कार का जवाब ना दे रहा था तो उ ह~ने मुझे। तभी वहां खड़े रहे !सराज पटे ल इ ह~ने सुJनि•चत कoरयर 'गJत (MACP) अगले दो मह ने म) लगने वाल है साहब ऐसे कर अपने बात करना श‚ ु कया। अफसर सा.हबान इ ह~ने पछ ू ा क इसके !लए Gया आव•यकता है ? !सराज पटे ल उ ह~ने कहा क वा षक 'दशन oरपोट करं ट पछले 5 साल~ का नह ं तो नह ं !मलेगा साहब।
तभी आप सब सा.हबान ने कहा क इस वष का वा षक 'दशन oरपोट लेकर आओ और तरु ं त !सराज पटे ल वह खड़े थे वह तुरंत ऊपर के ऑ फस म) गए और लेकर आए वह भरा हुआ oरपोट (2023-24) मुझे .दखाकर वह तुरंत बोले क म4 यह oरपोट पुनः क‚ंगा और उसम) अंक भी काम दं ग ू ा। म4 वहां लचर यवˆथा म) ह खड़ा रहा।
कुछ .दन होने के बाद मेरा ए‰ेस अलाउं स भी कट गया और अ य तरह कR परे शानी से म4 गज ु र रहा हूं।
मेरे साथ भतŠ हुए 2014 के सभी MACP सभी को लाभ!मल रहा है । और मुझे कहा जा रहा है क तुम कैसे पर चलो तु ह) भी !मल जाएगा? कैसे पीछे लेने के !लए मझ ु े राइ.टंग म) !लख !लखने कR जीत पकड़ी जा रह है ? मेरे केस के संबंध !सराज पटे ल तरह-तरह सािजश रच रहे ह4। और मेरे वWXध म) ह ए(ल केशन लगा रहे ह4। और तरह तरह कR मेरे पर ‹डपाटम) ट इंGवार चल रह है । ‹डपाटम) ट इंGवायर पीछे लेने के !लए मेरे पास शत रखी जा रह है । जो केसेस क)Y य मा.हती आयोग म) चल रहा ‹डपाटम) ट इंGवायर पीछे लेने के !लए मेरे पास शत रखी जा रह है। जो केसेस क)Y य मा.हती आयोग म) चल रहा है वह पीछे लेने के !लए मेर !लखावट से !ल#खत चाहते File No :- 3) CIC/IARMY/C/1168781 1) Page 7 of 10 पॉइंट ॥ म4 खेत यGत कया है परं तु मुझे मा.हती अ7धकार आ!सफ शर फ (CPIO) साहब म) जो भी कारवाई जानकार चा.हए।
2) यहां पर गुमराह कया जा रहा है 13 नवंबर 2021 आवेदन कसके पास है वह जानकार चा.हए।
3) यहां पर गुमराह कया जा रहा है 13 नवंबर 2021 आवेदन के 7 पॉइंट .दए गए उसकR सार जानकार चा.हए।
VI. The Complainant summed-up his arguments by contending the information supplied to him by the Respondent were false and misleading. VII. The Respondent at the outset explained the reason for his absence on last date of hearing, which was due to late receipt of hearing notice because the same was delivered after conclusion of hearing.
VIII. As regards information sought, he explained that point-wise reply as per the records available in their office has already been provided to the Complainant vide letters dated 08.10.2022 and 01.08.2025.
Final Decision:
IX. The Commission after adverting to facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the Complainant and perusal of records observes that this case is a complaint filed under Section 18(2) the RTI Act where no further direction for disclosure of information can be given in the light of the judgement decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Chief Information Commissioner and another Vs. State of Manipur & Another reported in MANU/SC/1484/2011: AIR 2012 SC 864.
X. The role of CIC is restricted only to ascertain if the information has been denied with a mala-fide intention or due to an unreasonable cause. Upon perusal of the facts on record the Commission finds that an appropriate and timely reply has been given by the Respondent as per the RTI Act. No mala-fide is established on part of the PIO in this case. Here, it is relevant to quote a judgment of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the matter of Registrar of Page 8 of 10 Companies & Ors v. Dharmendra Kumar Garg & Anr. [W.P.(C) 11271/2009] dated 01.06.2012 wherein it was held:
"...61. It can happen that the PIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the PIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a show cause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. The legislature has cautiously provided that only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the PIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty on the PIO can be imposed...."
XI. During hearing, the Complainant is challenging the veracity of information/reply given by the Respondent which is a matter of grievance and cannot be decided under the mandate of the RTI Act.
XII. Intervention of the Commission is not required in this matter.
The matter stands disposed of accordingly.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari (िवनोद कुमार ितवारी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) (S. Anantharaman) Dy. Registrar 011- 26181927 Date Page 9 of 10 Copy To:
The FAA, Armd Static Wksp EME, Ahmednagar, PIN - 900476, C/o 56 APO.Page 10 of 10
Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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