Central Information Commission
Saroj Devi vs Department Of Telecommunications on 31 July, 2025
Author: Heeralal Samariya
Bench: Heeralal Samariya
के न्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई दिल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
नितीय अपील संख्या / Second Appeal No. CIC/DOTEL/A/2024/134428
Ms. Saroj Devi ... अपीलकताग/Appellant
VERSUS/बनाम
1. PIO, ...प्रनतवािीगण /Respondent
National Informatics Centre
2. PIO,
Department of Telecommunications
Date of Hearing : 29.07.2025
Date of Decision : 29.07.2025
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Heeralal Samariya
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 05.06.2024
PIO replied on : 04.07.2024
First Appeal filed on : 26.07.2024
First Appellate Order on : - -
2 Appeal/complaint received on
nd : 16.10.2024
Information soughtand background of the case:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 05.06.2024 seeking information on following points:-
".........I had sent a complaint cum request letter to the Director General of NIC on 4th January 2024 and requested for investigation and action against DIO Ranvir Singh of Palamu. I also sent a copy of the said letter to the Ministry of Communications on the same date whose Consignment number was RJ248686932IN and post was delivered on 10/01/2024.
The applicant expects the following information in this regard, kindly furnish the information.0
1. How many officers read the said letter? Please provide me the full name, designation and postal address of all those officers. उक्त पत्र को दकतने अनिकाररयों ने पढा ? कृ पया मुझे उन सभी अनिकाररयों का पूरा नाम, पिनाम और डाक पता प्रिान करे ।
2. Was any order or request issued by any officer to take action on this letter? क्या इस पत्र पर कारग वाई करने के नलए दकसी अनिकारी िारा कोई आिेश या ननवेिन जारी दकया गया था?
a. If yes, please provide me a certified copy of that order / request. यदि हााँ, तो कृ पया मुझे उस आिेश / ननवेिन की सत्यानपत प्रनत प्रिान करे ।
Page 1 b. If not, is any action being taken on it or will any action be taken in future? Please provide clear information. यदि नहीं, तो क्या इस पर कोई कारग वाई की जा रही है या भनवष्य में कोई कारग वाई की जाएगी? कृ पया स्पष्ट सुचना प्रिान करे ।"
The CPIO, National Informatics Centre vide letter dated 04.07.2024 replied as under:-
"Xx Xx As per the information received from the custodians of information, i.e (Deemed PIO) the reply of the RTI request is:-
"It is informed that NIC had received an RTI query from Smt Saroja Devi (RTI request dt. 13.02.2024 receipt dt. 20.02.2024) the RTI query had also requested for similar information related to the complaint dt. 04.01.2024 submitted by Ms. Saroj Devi.
The RTI request reply given to the applicant on 01/03/2024. Ms. Saroj Devi had also filed offline RTI Appeal dated 04/04/2024 which was disposed by FAA, NIC vide letter dated 16.05.2024 (Copy enclosed).
With reference to the present RTI request of Smt Saroj Devi dated 13.2.2024, transferred from Shri Sandeep Kumar Ambasta Under Secretary & CPIO Meity, (received in NIC RTI Section on dated 26/06/2024), the questions asked are similar in nature to previous query received in NIC dt. 13.02.2024.
No additional information is available other than the enclosed appeal disposal letter of FAA, NIC dated 16.05.2024.
It is informed that the RTI Act provides you a right with respect to review the decision as to the amount of fees charged or the form of access provided (including particulars of the Appellate Authority, time limit, process and any other forms)."
Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 26.07.2024.
Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Written submission dated 21.07.2025 has been received from the CPIO, Department of Telecommunications and same has been taken on record for perusal. The relevant extract whereof is as under:
"..2. The CIC has made the following CPIOs as respondents:
Page 2 (1) Assistant Director (Grievances & RTI) & CPIO, National Informatics Centre (Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology) Grievances & RTI Section, A-Block, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003.
(8) Under Secretary (C&A/RTI) & CPIO, Department of Telecommunications (C&A/RTI) Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001.
3. In this connection, it is submitted that as per the enclosures attached with the CIC Notice dated 03.07.2025, it is seen that the offline RTI Application dated 05.06.2024 of Ms. Saroj Devi, which was received in this office (i.e. RTI Cell, Department of Telecommunications) on 11.06.2024, was transferred under Section 6(3) of RTI Act, 2005 to the RTI Nodal officer, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology vide O.M. No. 9-06/2024 RTI (offline) dated 12.06.2024. The Under Secretary (RTI/PG Cell) & CPIO, M/o Electronics & IT forwarded the RTI application to CPIO (RTI Cell) & Scientist 'F' National Informatics Centre, New Delhi vide letter No. 1(1)/2024-RTI dated 24.06.2024. 3.1 It may be seen that the applicant had sent a complaint cum request letter to the Director General, NIC on 04.01.2024 and requested for investigation and action against DIO Ranvir Singh of Palamu. Through RTI application, the applicant sought the following information:-
(i) how many officers read the said letter? Please provide me the full name, designation and postal address of all those officers.
(ii) Was any order or request issued by any officer to take action on this letter?
(a) if yes, please provide me a certified copy of that order/request.
(b) if not, is any action being taken on it or will any action be taken in future? Please provide clear information.
3.2 RTI Cell, Department of Telecommunications has no information to provide to the applicant and NIC falls under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology the RTI application was, therefore, transferred under Section 6(3) of RTI Act, 2005 to the RTI Nodal officer, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
4. The applicant received reply to her RTI application by CPIO (RTI Cell) & Scientist 'F' NIC, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, New Delhi vide letter No. 7 (72)/2024-RTI dated 04.07.2024.
5. In this regard, Ms. Saroj Devi had filed 1 Appeal before (1) FAA, Department of Telecommunications and (ii) FAA, DDG, NIC, CGO Complex vide her letter dated 26.07.2024, A Copy of the reply of Director (Coord.) & FAA, Department of Telecommunications vide order of FAA dated 08.08.2024 is attached. Aggrieved by the order of the FAA of RTI Section, NIC HQ, CGO Complex, Ms. Saroj Devi has filed 2nd Appeal in the CIC on 16.10.2024..."
Written submission dated 19.07.2025 has been received from the CPIO and same has been taken on record for perusal. The relevant extract whereof is as under:
"..The point-wise response to the RTI query with information as available on record is below:
Page 3
1. How many officers did my application go to please provide me the full name designation and postal address of all those officers.
Reply: The RTI query dated 13.02.2024 was examined in NIC Vigilance Section and in NIC Jharkhand State unit. No vigilance angle was found in the said complaint. The postal address of NIC HQ and NIC Jharkhand State unit is available in the NIC website https://www.nic.gov.in/ which is in public domain
2. Which officer is currently holding this letter please provide me full name designation and postal address of that officer. Reply: NIC Jharkhand State unit.
3. For how many years has the accused DIO (Ranbir Singh) been posted in his home District Palamu.
Reply: Shri Ranvir Singh, Scientist-D is posted in NIC Palamu District Centre since 2014.
4. Provide me the full name and complete postal address of the Department/Authority/Minister/Officer that appoints transfer and dismisses the DIO.
Reply: Since the matter is sub-judice, NIC as a public authority would consider taking any further action based on the specific directions of the court.
a. For the purpose of appointment, the approval of the Competent Authority may be referred to, as conveyed vide Office Order dated 19.12.2000 (Copy enclosed).
b. For the purpose of transfer, the approval of the Competent Authority may be referred to, as conveyed vide communication no.2(1)/2019-Pers/3108906 dated 27.7.2020 (Copy enclosed). c. The matter regarding the dismissal of the DIO is addressed by the Administration/Vigilance sections as the case maybe along with approval of competent authority.
The appellant is also informed that RTI Act is not a forum for resolution of Family disputes. Eliciting answers to queries, redressal of grievance, reasons for non-compliance of rules/ contesting the actions of the respondent public authority are outside the purview of the Act.
The above is submitted for your kind information in reference to CIC hearing no. CIC/NICHQ/A/2024/121132 & CIC/NICHQ/A/2024/134428 dated 03/07/2025, scheduled on 29.07.2025. at 12.05 P.M..."
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Appellant: Present through video-conferencing.
Respondent: Mr. Swarup Dutta, CPIO/Scientist F, NIC-HQ- participated in the hearing.
The Appellant stated that the relevant information has not been furnished to her till date. She stated that she has prayed for an action against Mr. Ranbir Singh.
Page 4 The Respondent reiterated the averments made in their written submission and stated that the relevant information has been duly provided to the Appellant.
Decision:
Upon perusal of records and submissions made during hearing, it is noted that the Appellant's queries had been appropriately answered by concerned PIO. Furthermore, written submission filed by the Respondent is comprehensive and self-explanatory. Thus, information as permissible under the provisions of the RTI Act has been duly furnished to the Appellant. In the given circumstances, no further intervention of the Commission is warranted in this case under the RTI Act. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Heeralal Samariya (हीरालाल सामररया) Chief Information Commissioner (मुख्य सूचना आयुक्त) Authenticated true copy (अनभप्रमानणत सत्यानपत प्रनत) S. K. Chitkara (एस. के . नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26186535 Page 5 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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