Central Information Commission
Shivani Goyal vs Petroleum And Natural Gas Regulatory ... on 24 March, 2026
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/PNGRB/A/2024/651198
Shivani Goyal .....अपीलकर्ाग /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO : Petroleum and Natural Gas ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
Regulatory Board, 1st Floor, World
Trade Centre, Babar Road, New Delhi -
110001
Date of Hearing : 19-01-2026
Date of Interim Decision : 19-01-2026
Date of Show Cause Hearing : 23-03-2026
Date of Final Decision : 23-03-2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Khushwant Singh Sethi
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 22-04-2024
CPIO replied on : 21-05-2024
First appeal filed on : 21-06-2024
First Appellate Authority's order : 18-07-2024
2nd Appeal dated : 18-11-2024
CIC/PNGRB/A/2024/651198 Page 1 of 6
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 22-04-2024 seeking the following information:
"1. As per Corrigendum dated 1/07/2022, PNGRB received request from the prospective bidder for time extension in submission of bids and as per Rule 5(8) of the PNGRB (Authorizing entities to lay, build, operate or expand petroleum and petroleum products pipeline) the last date of submission was extended. Kindly provide the details of the prospective bidder. Any additional correspondence or documentation related to the request and subsequent extension granted.
2. As per the corrigendum dated 26/07/2022, the bidder was allowed to choose a starting point of the proposed pipeline i.e. either from Palwal or Piyala. Kindly provide the following details: a. Details of the decision making process leading to change in the route of the project.
b. Survey conducted by the concerned authorities to add "Piyala" as an alternative route.
c. Reasons/justifications provided for altering the route. d. Reason/ Justification as to why it was not mentioned in the initial expression of interest.
3. Kindly provide details as well as documentations of the public consultations, if any, held regarding the change in the route, including date, location and outcome of such consultations.
4. What is the prescribed distance from a constructed residential house and a deep tubewell for laying down ATF pipeline?
5. Kindly provide details of open house discussions, if any, held regarding the abovementioned change in the route.
6. Kindly provide details of any correspondence or communications exchanged between the relevant Government department and the stakeholders regarding the route change."
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 21-05-2024 stating as under:
"Reply to query no. (1), (2), (3), (5) & (6): Details are available on PNGRB's website i.e. www.pngrb.gov.in.CIC/PNGRB/A/2024/651198 Page 2 of 6
Reply to quary no. (4): You may kindly refer PNGRB (Technical Standards and Specifications Including Safety Standards for Petroleum and Petroleum Products Pipelines) Regulations, 2016 which is available on PNGRB's website i.e. www.pngrb.gov.in."
3. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 21-06-2024. The FAA vide its order dated 18-07-2024, held as under:
"3. CPIO has furnished the reply vide letter dated 20th June, 2024 and 21st May, 2024 based on the available information. However, it is observed that the links do not open the specific document containing the information sought by the applicant. Therefore, CPIO is directed to provide the specific link/ copy of the documents containing the information in respect of point no. 1 to 6 under the RTI Act, 2005 to the applicant within 30 days. "
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Absent Respondent: Remained absent despite receiving the hearing notice on
05.01.2026.
Interim Decision:
5. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case and perusal of the records, observes that the respondent did not give an appropriate reply to the appellant vide letter dated 21.05.2024. Further, the FAA vide order dated 18.07.2024 has clearly stated that the links do not open the specific document containing the information sought by the applicant and directed the CPIO to provide the specific link/ copy of the documents containing CIC/PNGRB/A/2024/651198 Page 3 of 6 the information in respect of point no. 1 to 6. The Commission finds that the appellant vide the instant appeal has stated that she has not received the sought information. Therefore, the respondent is directed to give a revised point-wise reply to the appellant with the exact link/copy of documents, as per the RTI Act, within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order under intimation to the Commission - both through post and via uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper-compliance/add.
6. Apart from the above, the Commission finds that the respondent remained absent to the hearing despite receiving the Commission's hearing notice on 05.01.2026 and has failed to apprise the Commission on whether he has complied with the FAA's order and provided the sought information to the appellant or not. In view of the above, the respondent is hereby SHOW-CAUSED as to why penalty U/s 20(1) of the RTI Act should not be imposed upon them for the aforesaid reasons. The respondent is directed to submit detailed written explanation to the Commission for not providing information to the appellant -
both through post and via uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper- compliance/add within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order. Accordingly, the appeal is reserved for further orders.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
SHOW CAUSE HEARING: 23.03.2026 Facts emerging in course of Hearing:
Respondent: Mr. Muktikam Phukan, Director (Admin & HR) & Nodal CPIO; Mr. Madhoop Sah, Deputy Director and Mr. S. P. Bhatta, Dy, Consultant, attended the hearing in person.CIC/PNGRB/A/2024/651198 Page 4 of 6
1. The respondent submitted that they had provided the revised reply with website links to the appellant on 02.08.2024 in compliance with the FAA's order dated 18.07.2024. The respondent also submitted that they had provided point-
wise reply to the appellant and had given the working links. However, the speed post got returned with remarks 'no such person' on 08.08.2024. The respondent further submitted that they had sent the revised reply to the appellant via e- mail. The respondent also submitted that the absence during the hearing was neither deliberate nor on account of any disregard towards the proceedings of the Hon'ble Commission. The lapse occurred solely due to the bonafide administrative circumstances, as the office had limited staff and somehow the notice got misplaced. The respondent requested the Commission to accept his apology and sympathetically condone his absence, and not impose any penalty under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act.
2. Written explanation dated 06.02.2026 along with letter dated 02.08.2024, copy of speed post returned with remarks on 08.08.2024 filed by the respondent are taken on record.
FINAL DECISION:
3. The Commission finds that the respondent had provided point-wise reply to the appellant on 02.08.2024 in compliance with the FAA's order. However, the same was returned with remarks 'No such persons'. In view of the above, CIC/PNGRB/A/2024/651198 Page 5 of 6 the Commission is satisfied that no case of malafide intention may be attributed to the respondent. Also, the respondent explained the reasons for his absence and pleaded to condone for the same. Accordingly, the Show Cause proceeding against the respondent is hereby dropped.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
((Khushwant Singh Sethi) (खुशवन्त स िंह ेठी) Information Commissioner ( ूचना आयुक्त) निनां क/Date: 23.03.2026 Authenticated true copy S. K. Chitkara (एस. के. नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26107026 Copy To:
1. The CPIO Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, 1st Floor, World Trade Centre, Babar Road, New Delhi - 110001
2. The FAA, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, 1st Floor, World Trade Centre, Babar Road, New Delhi - 110001
3. Shivani Goyal CIC/PNGRB/A/2024/651198 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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