Central Information Commission
Padmanav Biswal vs Ministry Of Information & Broadcasting on 28 January, 2026
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/MOIAB/A/2024/128648
Padmanav Biswal .....अपीलकर्ाग /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO : Office of the Press Registrar ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
General of India, 9th Floor, Soochna
Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi - 110003.
Date of Hearing : 27-01-2026
Date of Decision : 27-01-2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Khushwant Singh Sethi
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 03-05-2024
CPIO replied on :
First appeal filed on :
First Appellate Authority's order :
2nd Appeal dated : 30.08.2024
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 03-05-2024 seeking the following information:CIC/MOIAB/A/2024/128648 Page 1 of 6
"Change of Ownership of KADA JABAB, Odia Fortnightly newspaper bearing Regn.No.ODIODI/2013/55871.Discrepancies of three item were sent by registered letter which was received by our office on 02.01.2024 for our perusal. But the change of ownership of the Registration Certificate of KADA JABAB is not yet communicated. Needful early action may kindly be taken."
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 10-06-2024 stating as under:
"Request made in your application does not fall under 'information' as defined in Section 2(f) o RTI Act, 2005. However, in this regard, it is informed that after examination of the documents for Transfer of Ownership in respect of the publication 'KADA JABAB' received from O/o The Collector & District Magistrate, Khordha vide letter No. 124 dated 23.03.2021, some discrepancy were found. Accordingly a discrepancy letter dated 28.12.2021 was issued to Publisher (copy enclosed). In response to the same as per record, some documents related to the publication KADA JABAB has been received in this office on 10.01.2024. The said documents will be processed as per the PRP Rules, 2024 and PRGI's guidelines. The dak received in this office are processed chronologically in the order of their receipt."
3. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 03-07-2024. The FAA's order, if any, is not available on record.
4. Aggrieved with the non-receipt of the FAA's order, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Attended the hearing through video conference. Respondent: Mr. Prateek Srivastava, Registration Supervisor, attended the hearing in person.
5. The Appellant stated that his change of ownership certificate for newspaper named Kada Jabab Odia has not been communicated by the respondent. The appellant submitted that he has filed the instant RTI application CIC/MOIAB/A/2024/128648 Page 2 of 6 seeking the respondent to take early action on the aforesaid change of ownership.
6. The Respondent submitted that the appellant has not sought for any information in the instant RTI Application and hence, the same does not fall under the definition of information as per Section 2(f) of the RTI Act. The respondent submitted that they could not process the appellant's application due to an outstanding penalty of Rs. 9000/-, and non-submission of a continuous publication certificate for the last 05 years. Due to this, the publication had been placed in defunct list. The respondent further submitted the appellant has to make fresh application as per the latest PRP Rules, 2024.
7. Written submission dated 27.01.2026 filed by the respondent is taken on record and relevant portion of the same is reproduced below:
"7. Without prejudice to the above, it is further submitted that the processing of the case relating to the said publication is presently constrained due to statutory and procedural deficiencies on the part of the Publisher. In this regard, a Discrepancy Letter dated 22.07.2024 (Tide Code: ODIODI) has been issued to the Publisher of "KADA JABAB", wherein the following discrepancies have been pointed out:
(i) A penalty of Rs. 9,000/- is outstanding for non-submission of Annual Statements for the financial years 2014-15 and 2022-23 in respect of RNI Registration No. ODIODI/2013/55871 (128426). The Publisher has been advised to deposit the penalty online through the Press Sewa Portal, and it has been clearly stated that no PRGI-related request shall be entertained until the penalty is paid.CIC/MOIAB/A/2024/128648 Page 3 of 6
(ii) The publication has been placed under the defunct list for non-
submission of Annual Statements continuously for the last five years or more. It has been conveyed that no PRGI-related request shall be entertained unless confirmation is received from the concerned DM/SDM/CMM/DCP/Regional Office of PIB certifying that the publication has been regularly published during the last five years, along with a PCC format certificate. (copy enclosed)
8. In view of the above facts, it is respectfully submitted that the matter relating to change of ownership of the publication is subject to compliance with statutory requirements by the Publisher and is being dealt with strictly in accordance with the PRP Rules, 2024 and the guidelines issued by the Press Registrar General of India. The RTI request has already been disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005."
8. During the hearing, the respondent has explained the shortcomings in his application to the appellant and advised the appellant to rectify the said shortcomings for approval of his news paper's change of ownership. The Commission directed the respondent to serve a copy of their written submission dated 27.01.2026 along with letter dated 22.07.2024 to the appellant. To this, the respondent agreed.
Decision:
9. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both the parties, and perusal of the records, observes that the appellant did not seek any information from the respondent and instead requested them to take action on his request for change of ownership. Therefore, the Commission finds that the respondent gave an appropriate reply CIC/MOIAB/A/2024/128648 Page 4 of 6 to the appellant vide letter dated 10.06.2024. However, considering the fact that the appellant is a senior citizen, during the hearing the respondent has also explained the shortcomings in his application for change of ownership. Therefore, no further intervention of the Commission is required. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.
10. Also, the respondent is directed to serve a copy of their written submission dated 27.01.2026 along with all the annexures therein to the appellant in compliance with point no. 4(a) of the Hearing Notice of the Commission. The respondent shall serve copy of the aforesaid written submission to the appellant, 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.
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: 27.01.2026 Authenticated true copy S. K. Chitkara (एस. के. नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26107026 CIC/MOIAB/A/2024/128648 Page 5 of 6 Copy To:
1. The CPIO Office of the Press Registrar General of India, 9th Floor, Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003.
2. The FAA, Office of the Press Registrar General of India, 9th Floor, Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003.
3. Padmanav Biswal CIC/MOIAB/A/2024/128648 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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