Central Information Commission
Indradeo Rabidas vs Eastern Railway (Kolkata) on 25 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/ERAIL/A/2023/643829
INDRADEO RABIDAS .....अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO,
EASTERN RAILWAY
DRM'S OFFICE
ASSANSOL PIN - 713301 .... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 24.06.2024
Date of Decision : 02.07.2024
Date of SCN hearing : 10.09.2025
Date of SCN Decision : 25.09.2025
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 14.06.2023
CPIO replied on : 30.06.2023
First appeal filed on : 10.07.2023
First Appellate Authority's order : 25.07.2023
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : NIL
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 14.06.2023 seeking the following information:
"मेरे वारा फज ज म त थ के आधार पर Assistant Loco Pilot म नौकर लेने क दनांक 19/10/22 क शकायत प रिज!टड$ डाक सं० - RJ282749575IN से DRM, ASANSOL को भेजी गई थी उ-त संबंध म न/न ल0खत जानकार 2दान करने क कृपा करे ! Page 1 of 6
1. फज ज म त थ के आधार पर Assistant Loco Pilot म नौकर लेने क शकायत क जां च 2 तवेदन क मूल 2 त भेजने क कृपा करे !
2. य द जां च म फज ज म त थ के आधार पर Assistant Loco Pilot म नौकर लेने क बात सह पाई गई हो तो रे लवे वारा उ-त कम पर जो कारवाई क गई है बतलाने क कृपा करे !"
The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 30.06.2023 stating as under:
"उपयु-त के संदभ$ म, आपके अ:यावेदन को ;यान से पढ़ने के बाद यह दे खा जा रहा है =क आपन सूचना मांगने क आड़ म अपनी शकायत? का नवारण करने का 2यास =कया है । यह सूचना का अ धकार के अ ध नयम के दायरे म नह ं आता है । आपने अपने सच ू ना का अ धकार अ ध नयम अ:यावेदन म ऐसी कोई भी सच ू ना नह ं मांगी है जो सच ू ना का अ धकार अ ध नयम के धारा 2(f) का अनप ु ालन करता हो। अतः यह काया$लय आपको कोई सच ू ना उपलDध कराने म असमथ$ है ।"
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 10.07.2023. The FAA vide its order dated 25.07.2023, held as under:-
"उपयु-
$ त संदभ$ म आपके आरट आई आपील के पEर2ेFय म इस मामले से संबं धत अ धकार अथा$त मHडल का म$क अ धकार / पूव$ रे लवे/आसनसोल से उनके प संIया EL / RTI/ ALP (Elect) / IR/ 2023, दनांक 21.07.2023 के अनुसार एवं लोक सूचना अ धकार एवं वEरKठ मंड ल का म$क अ धकार / पूव$ रे लवे/आसनसोल के मा;यम से मंतMय 2ाNत हुई है । उ-त प क 2 त लOप आपके सूचनाथ$ इसके साथ संलPन है ।
तदनस ु ार, आपके अपील का नपटारा होता है।"
The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 21.07.2023 stating as under:
"As desired by the information seeker vide his application dt: 14/06/2023, remarks pertaining to EL section/ASN are furnished below:
The case is under investigation in view of the applicant's representation dt. 19/10/2022."
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing on 24.06.2024:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through VC.Page 2 of 6
Respondent: Absent.
The Appellant stated that he has not received the relevant information as sought in the instant RTI Application from the Respondent. He added that he has lodged a complaint against Shri Ashok Ram, an employee in Indian Railways, that he has reduced his age and passed Matric exam twice and on the basis of fake DOB he has got the job. He further apprised the bench that this sort of scam/malpractice is going on very large scale and it needs to investigated by the competent authorities.
The Respondent did not participate in the hearing despite being served the hearing notice in advance.
Order on 02.07.2024:
"The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, and perusal of the records, observes that facts of instant Second Appeal which has been filed against Eastern Railway, DRM'S Office, Asansol, are similar to the facts of another Second Appeal No. CIC/ERAIL/A/2023/617934, which has been filed against Eastern Railways (Vigilance Branch), Kolkata, wherein the it was observed that the vigilance branch has forwarded the averred case to Sr. DPO/ Asansol, who are the Respondent in the instant Appeal. The Commission further observes that reply provided by the Respondent in the instant case is evasive as the Appellant is only seeking information regarding action taken on his complaint. Further the Respondent did not participate in the hearing despite being served the hearing notice in advance. Accordingly, the Commission expresses severe displeasure on the conduct of the concerned CPIO for providing evasive replies qua the instant RTI Application and for not participating in the hearing and therefore he/she is being called to show cause. The act of the concerned CPIO, tramples upon the citizen's right under the RTI Act as well as shows lack of respect towards the Commission. In view of the above, inaction on his/her part is prima facie established and therefore, the Commission deems it expedient to direct the Registry of this Bench to issue Show Cause Notice to concerned CPIO. The CPIO shall explain in writing as to why action should not be initiated against Page 3 of 6 him under Section 20(1) and 20(2) of the RTI Act for the foregoing reasons, written explanation of the CPIO should reach the Commission within four weeks from the date of receipt of this order. In the meantime, the Commission directs the concerned CPIO to re- examine the instant RTI Application and provide reply by furnishing relevant information to the Appellant as on date/current status, within two weeks from the date of receipt of this order. The FAA shall ensure compliance with this order. A copy of this order is marked to the FAA who shall ensure that a copy of this order is received by the erring CPIO. The FAA is further directed to ensure that under all circumstances, written submissions of the erring CPIO should reach the Commission within four weeks from the date of receipt of this order, failing which proceedings will be held ex-parte and decision passed. The FAA shall inform the Commission the name/names of the CPIO at the relevant time who was/were supposed to give reply to the Appellant and the name of CPIO who did not appear in the hearing.
Be that as it may, allegation of scam levelled by the Appellant is a serious matter and which the Respondent Public Authority is advised to take suitable action."
Relevant Facts emerged during Show-Cause proceedings held on 10.09.2025:
I. The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through VC.
Respondent: Ms. Bubble Yadav, CPIO-cum-Senior DPO, attended the hearing through VC.
II. The Appellant stated that he has received the relevant information from the Respondent and further expressed his satisfaction over the same.
III. The Respondent submitted that in compliance with the directions passed by the Commission vide order dated 02.07.2024, the relevant information has been given to the Appellant vide letter dated 26.07.2024. She further reiterated the contents of written submission.
Page 4 of 6IV. A written explanation to the SCN has been received Ms. Bubble Yadav, PIO-cum-Senior DPO, vide letter dated 26.07.2024, a copy of which has been sent to the Appellant and the same has been taken on record. The relevant extract of the same is as under:
"सबसे पहले, आपको यह बताना है =क के R य सूचना आयोग क सुनवाई क ू ना इस काया$लय को 2ाNत नह ं हुई है । इस लए, इस काया$लय से कोई भी सच Mयि-त आयोग क सुनवाई म शा मल नह ं हो सका।
आपका आरट आई अ:यावेदन/ शकायत और कR य सच ू ना आयोग के नदU श? के पEर2ेFय म मामले क वत$मान ि!थ त नीचे द गई है :
1. Wी अशोक राम, एएलपी (ई) के 0खलाफ इस संबं धत कम$चार क 2 ज म त थ के संबंध म आपक शकायत दनांक 19.10.2022 को इस काया$लय को 2ाNत होने पर, इस काया$लय से एक कम$चार और कZयाण नर [क को 2 त नय-
ु त करके मामले क जाँच क गई। इस काया$लय के ना मत कम$चार और कZयाण नर [क ने हाई !कूल, मुPमा का दौरा =कया जहाँ से Wी अशोक राम ने अपनी मै ]क पर [ा उ^ीण$ क थी। इस Oव यालय के 2भार 2धाना;यापक/ उ_च Oव यालय, मुगमा, धनबाद से Wी मनीष रजक, ना मत मI ु य कम$चार और कZयाण नर [क/पव ू $ रे लवे/आसनसोल को संबो धत प संIया 40/MGM/2-023, दनांक, 17.07.2023 अनल ु Pनक-ए के bप म संगलPन है एवं मI ु य कम$चार और कZयाण नर [क क दनांक 07.09.2023 क जाँच Eरपोट$ अनुलPनक-बी के bप म संलPन है ।
2. चं=ू क अपील य 2ा धकार एवं अपर मंडल रे ल 2बंधक/आसनसोल से अपील का जवाब दे ने के समय जांच का पEरणाम 2ाNत नह ं हुआ था, इस लए अपील य 2ा धकार एवं अपर मंडल रे ल 2बंधक आसनसोल वारा आपको सू चत =कया गया =क "आवेदक के द. 19.10.2022 के अ:यावेदन के म दे नजर मामले क जांच क जा रह है "।
3. इस मामले क जांच पव ू $ रे लवे सतक$ता Oवभाग वारा भी क गई थी और पव ू $ रे लवे सतक$ता Oवभाग के ु ार, संबं धत कम$चार नदे शानस से काय$कार मिज!]े ट धनबाद के सम[ 2!तत ु शपथ-प (ए=फडेOवट) 2ाNत =कया गया है , िजसम यह पिु Kट क गई है =क उसक वा!तOवक ज म त थ 04.03.1989 है । इसे अनल ु Pनक-सी के bप म संलPन =कया गया है ।
4. Wी अशोक राम / एएलपी (ई) वारा Oव भ न रे लवे द!तावेज? और अ य द!तावेज? म दज$ ज म त थ 04.03.1989 है ।
Page 5 of 65. Wी अशोक राम क ज म त थ के संबंध म एक !पKट करण संबं धत कम$चार से वEरKठ मंडल eबजल इंजी नय/पEरचालन/आसनसोल को संबो धत उनके प द.04.09.2023 के मा;यम से 2ाNत हुआ है , जो अनल ु Pनक-डी के bप म संलPन है ।
!वbप है । यह आपक जानकार हे तु और माननीय सच ू ना आय-
ु त/कR य सच ू ना आयोग/नई दZल के नदU श के अनप ु ालन संलPनक : यथो-त"
Decision in respect of Show-Cause proceedings:
V. Perusal of the documents submitted by the Noticee, reveals that a suitable reply in terms of the provisions of the RTI Act has been given to the Appellant vide letter dated 26.07.2024 in compliance with the directions of the Commission. The written explanation filed by the CPIO is found reasonable and satisfactory. The Appellant present during the hearing also expressed his satisfaction on the information provided by the CPIO. In view of the above observations and in the absence of any mala fide on part of the PIO, it would not be appropriate to initiate any action for imposition of penalty on the PIO. Therefore, the Show-cause notice issued is hereby dropped.
The show cause notice is hereby dropped, and 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 Copy To:
THE FAA, EASTERN RAILWAY DRM'S OFFICE ASSANSOL PIN - 713301 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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