Central Information Commission
P Jayaseela Rao vs India Meteorological Department on 30 December, 2025
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/IMETD/A/2024/130817
P Jayaseela Rao ... अपीलकताग/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
The CPIO:
Office of the Head, Climate ...प्रनतवािीगण/Respondents
Research and Services, India
Metrological Department,
Shivaji Nagar, Pune - 411005
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI : 18.04.2024 FA : 02.06.2024 SA : 20.09.2024
CPIO : 19.06.2024 FAO : 23.07.2024 Hearing : 29.12.2025
Date of Decision: 30.12.2025
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
Khushwant Singh Sethi
ORDER
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 18.04.2024 seeking information on the following points:
1. I worked in PET Observatory Nellore as Senior Observer under Addl Director General Of Meteorology Now Deputy Director General Of Meteorology, Agrimet, Pune-411005 during 1992-96. During the Period I have undergone treatment of hemodialysis and thereafter Kidney transplant treatment. During the period I attended duties i.e. being fit for duties I was not paid my salaries. I request you to kindly furnish the Non payment of salaries period it seems I was Page 1 of 4 not paid about 15 months salaries and put me on starvation. Kindly furnish the copies of Medical fitness certificates issued by Apollo Hospital Chennai and Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati. Any service procedures followed such as regularization of service, and reasons for such administrative steps along with file noting paper copies may be furnished. My copies of representation made to the DGM, New Delhi and Addl Director General Of Meteorology Agrimet, Pune for sanction of salaries may kindly be furnished. I also submit I have been paid medical reimbursement following the Hon'ble CAT Hyderabad Bench order and provided Kidney transplant treatment at Apollo Hospital, Chennai a referral Hospital for the Kidney transplantation. I also request you to kindly furnish the details of Bills kept pending and the reasons i.e. Hemodialysis and Kidney transplant treatment of Apollo Hospital Nellore, Apollo Hospital, Chennai and SVIMS Tirupati...., etc./ other related information
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 19.06.2024 and the same is reproduced as under
:-
"With reference to RTI Cell Note dated 20.05.24, it is informed that the medical records/claims of Shri. P. Jayaseela Rao, Met A (Retd) pertaining to the tenure of 1992-96 while he was posted in Agrimet Pune are not available with AS/CB."
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 02.06.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 23.07.2024 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.
4. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 20.09.2024.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-Page 2 of 4
Appellant: Attended the hearing through video conference.
Respondent: Dr. Maida Kohli, Scientist, attended the hearing through video conference.
5. The appellant inter alia submitted that he sought information on non-payment of salaries period, service procedure followed such as regularization of service, details of bills kept pending with respect to his kidney transplant etc. and the same were not provided by the respondent on the grounds that the matter pertains to more than 28 years and the records were not traceable.
6. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the appellant's posting was with Chennai region and hence the service records were sent to Chennai branch and they don't have the sought information.
7. Upon hearing the respondent, the Commission queried the respondent what is the data retention policy of their department, and the respondent submitted that no such policy exists and upon further query on whether they are sure that the Chennai region also doesn't have the sought information, the respondent submitted that the Chennai branch may have it.
8. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both parties and perusal of records, observes that the respondent did not give an appropriate reply to the appellant vide reply dated 19.06.2024. Further, the respondent failed to explain the data/record retention policy of their department. In view of the above, the respondent is directed to cross-check their records with their Chennai Branch for the sought information and give a revised reply to the appellant incorporating the sought information on all the points as per the RTI Act, depending on its availability. However, in case of non-
availability, the respondent is directed to file an affidavit on oath to the Commission with a categorical statement on non-availability of the sought information by reproducing the data/record retention policy of their department. A copy of the same should also be duly served on the appellant through all modes (Speed Post, e-mail, courier), within 15 days of receipt of this order under intimation to the Commission, both through post and via Page 3 of 4 uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper-compliance/add. Accordingly, the appeal is disposed of.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
(Khushwant Singh Sethi) (खुशवन्त ससिंह सेठी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्त) दिनांक/Date: 30.12.2025 Authenticated true copy S. K. Chitkara (एस. के . नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26107026 Addresses of the parties:
1. The CPIO Office of the Head, Climate Research and Services, India Metrological Department, Shivaji Nagar, Pune - 411005 2 The FAA Office of the Head, Climate Research and Services, India Metrological Department, Shivaji Nagar, Pune - 411005
3. Ms. P. Jayaseela Rao Page 4 of 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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