Central Information Commission
Deepak Chowrasia vs Pharmacy Council Of India on 27 March, 2026
के ीय सू चना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गं गनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729
Deepak Chowrasia ....िशकायतकता /Complainant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO
Pharmacy Council of India
NBCC Centre 3rd floor plot
no. 2 community centre maa
anandmai marg okhla phase I
New Delhi 110020 ..... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 19.03.2026
Date of Decision : 27.03.2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Jaya Varma Sinha
Relevant facts emerging from complaint:
RTI application filed on : 25.12.2024
CPIO replied on : 13.01.2025
First appeal filed on : Not on record
First Appellate Authority's order : Not on record
Complaint dated : 16.01.2025
Information sought:
1. The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 25.12.2024 (online) seeking the following information:
"Please provide following information under the RTI Act from official record available with Pharmacy Council of India.CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729 Page 1 of 8
1. Please provide the number and names of teaching staff present in the Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. to run B.Pharm, course for academic session 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021. Please provide certified copy of documents in support of information.
2. Please provide number and names of teaching staff shown by the Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. prior to taking approval to run D.Pharm. Course in the institute. Please provide certified copy of documents in support of information.
3. Please provide the number and names of teaching staff present in the Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. to run D. Pharm. course for academic session 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021. Please provide certified copy of documents in support of information.
4. Please provide the number and names of teaching staff present in the Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. to run M.Pharm. course (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) for academic session 2016- 2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021. Please provide certified copy of documents in support of information.
5. Please provide the number and names of teaching staff present in the Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. to run M.Pharm. course (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) for academic session 2016- 2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021. Please provide certified copy of documents in support of information.
6. Please provide the number and names of teaching staff present in the Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. to run M.Pharm. course (Pharmaceutics) for academic session 2016-2017, 2017- 2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021. Please provide certified copy of document/s in support of information.
7. Please provide the number and names of teaching staff present in the Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. to run M.Pharm. course (Pharmacology) for academic session 2016-2017, 2017- 2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021. Please provide certified copy of document/s in support of information.
8. Please provide date on which Deepak chowrasia was enrolled as teacher of Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. to run approved courses of pharmacy. Please provide certified copy of documents in support of information.CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729 Page 2 of 8
9. Please provide date on which Deepak chowrasia was relieved from Institute Of Pharmacy Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kalyanpur Kanpur U.P. please provide certified copy of documents in support of information."
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 13.01.2025 stating as under:
"This is in reference to your online RTI application dt. 25.12.2025, the Council's reply in seriatim is as under-
1 to 9) The desired information is available in various files and has to be compiled from different files and therefore compilation of such information involves a lot of work which would disproportionately divert the resources of this office. You are, therefore, requested to visit the Council's office after taking prior appointment, if you so wish, and inspect and take copies of the relevant documents u/s 2(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as available on record. No TA/DA will be paid."
3. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Complainant: Present through VC.
Respondent: Ms. Pratima Tiwari, CPIO-cum-DS, attended the hearing in person.
4. The Complainant stated that the Respondent has not provided the relevant information as sought in the instant RTI Application.
5. The Respondent submitted that the PCI started online Portal in the year 2019 using the digital software services of the NIC up to 2023-2024. The NIC software application was suddenly stopped/crashed and same was informed to NIC. Due to unavailability of source code and data by NIC, PCI does not have the access to these digital data repositories requiring faculty and therefore, the CPIO is not able to provide the data of academic session 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to the Complainant. She added that the information sought by Complainant is related to Government institution and therefore, the Complainant is requested to approach directly to concerned Government institution for information for session 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. The remaining information has to be compiled from different files and therefore compilation of such information involves a lot of work which would disproportionately divert the resources of this office.
CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729 Page 3 of 8Therefore, their office has requested the Complainant to visit their office for inspection of the relevant records.
6. A written submission has been received from Ms. Pratima Tiwari, CPIO-
cum-DS, vide letter dated 17.03.2026, stating as under:
"This is in reference to CIC notice dt. 20.2.2026 received on 5.3.2026. The Council's reply in seriatim is as under-
1. The Council has received RTI Application No. PHRCI/R/E/24/00627 dt. 25.12.2024 from Shri Deepak Chowrasia, a copy of which is enclosed as Annexure-A (s/164). The reply of above cited RTI was given by CPIO through Speed Fost and mail dt. 13.1.2025 to Shri Deepak Chowrasia, a copy of which is enclosed as Annexure-В.
2. The Council has received the first RTI oppeal No. PHRCI/A/E/25/00006 dt.25.1.2025 received from Shri Deepak Chowrasia with ground that "Provided incomplete, Misleading ne False Information" (em. A copy of which is enclosed as Annexure-C. The appellate authority vide letter dt. 20.2.2025 and mail dt.21.2.2025 given the reply to applicant, a copy of which is enclosed as Annexure-D
3. Further it is informed that the working details as uploaded by Shri Deepak Chourasia in PCI Faculty portal is as under:
Institution's Name Date of Joining Designation Job type Institute of 1.2.2013 Lecturer Contractual Pharmacy, Chhatrapati Sahu Ji Maharaj University, Kalyanpur, Kanpur, UP Naraina Group of 1.8.2013 Lecturer Regular Institutions Faculty of Pharmacy Institute of 16.2.2015 Assistant Contractual Pharmacy, Professor Chhatrapati Sahu Ji Maharaj University, CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729 Page 4 of 8 Kalyanpur, Kanpur, UP Kanpur Institute of 1.9.2021 Assistant Regular Technonology and Professor Pharmacy Maharana Pratap 10.1.2022 Assistant Regular College Professor Pharmaceutical sciences Signa College of 13.5.2022 Assistant Regular Pharmacy Professor Axist Institute of 16.9.2022 Assistant Regular Pharmacy, Kanpur Professor Mahatama Gandhi 25.2.2023 Assistant Regular Institute of Professor Pharmacy
7. A written submission has been received from the Complainant vide letter dated 18.03.2026, stating as under:
"In reference to PCI representation dated 17-03-2026 before Central Information Commission, following are counter submission on part of complainant. To further, complainant herein also raised additional submissions in support of his complaint.
1. That order passed by concerned public information officer (PIO) is unfair, malicious, illegal, arbitrary, deliberate, wrongful, and tantamount to infringement of complainant-applicant right to information for the reason given below, a. Because the respondent PIO refused information on unfair and misleading ground as information sought is easily accessible, present on the digital file including "Digi-PharMed" portal of PCI. Extracting such information present on such medium will not cause disproportionate diversion of office resources in actual as claimed for refusal of information.
b. Because on ground of such digital record, respondent PIO furnish working detail of complainant at S.No. 3 of their representation dated 17-03-2026 before CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729 Page 5 of 8 Central Information Commission which pertains to the S.No. 8 of the requisite information.
c. Because such information was disclosed after filing of complaint and before its hearing evidencing that requisite information is digitalized, accessible to the respondent PIO, and required to be furnished within the time period prescribed under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. Respondent PIO failed to discharge his/her duty in good faith and due diligence.
d. Because information sought in the RTI application is an "appropriate record"
and PCI is under obligation of Section 4 of the RTI Act-2005 to computerize/digitalize such record.
e. Because it is the duty of the PIO to collate information within its reach even when the information present on different records in the same office. PIO for discharge of her/his duty is empowered under Section 5(4) of the RTI Act-2005 to take necessary assistance of any other officer. f. Because forcing inspection of physical records when information is present as digital form is arbitrary, and contrary to the spirit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, which aims to minimize the physical resort to public offices and promote efficient, transparent access to information. It is therefore humbly prayed to please take above submissions on record and pass order after considering same with the submission and prayers made therein the complaint."
8. A written submission has been received from Ms. Pratima Tiwari, CPIO-
cum-DS, vide letter dated 19.03.2026, a copy of which has been sent to the Complainant and the same has been taken on record. The relevant extract of the same is as under:
"This is in reference to CIC hearing proceedings dt. 19.3.2026 on the subject cited notice, the CPIO additional reply is as under-
1. During the academic session 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, the Council was working in physical mode, the information sought by applicant is not consolidated at one place and available in different files. Hence applicant Shri Deepak Chowraisa was requested to visit the PCI office after taking prior appointment and inspect and take copies of the relevant documents u/s 2(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as available on record but he did not seek any appointment.
2. PCI started online Portal in the year 2019 using the digital software services of the NIC upto 2023-2024. The NIC software application was suddenly stopped/crashed and same was informed to NIC. Due to unavailability of source code and data by NIC and the Council does not have the access to these digital CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729 Page 6 of 8 data repositories requiring faculty, the CPIO is not able to provide the data of academic session 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
It is further informed that the information sought by applicant is related to Government institution. It is requested that kindly direct to the applicant to approach directly to concerned Government authority for information."
Decision
9. The Commission observed that the present complaint was filed under Section 18 of the RTI Act, 2005 where the Commission was only required to ascertain if the information has been denied with a mala fide intent or due to an unreasonable cause or under any other clause of Section 18 of RTI Act. In this regard, the Commission relies on one judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in "Chief Information Commissioner & Anr. Vs. State of Manipur & Anr." bearing CIVIL APPEAL NOs.10787-10788 OF 2011 decided on 12.12.2011 has held as under:-
"Therefore, the procedure contemplated under Section 18 and Section 19 of the said Act is substantially different. The nature of the power under Section 18 is supervisory in character whereas the procedure under Section 19 is an appellate procedure and a person who is aggrieved by refusal in receiving the information which he has sought for can only seek redress in the manner provided in the statute, namely, by following the procedure under Section 19. This Court is, therefore, of the opinion that Section 7 read with Section 19 provides a complete statutory mechanism to a person who is aggrieved by refusal to receive information. Such person has to get the information by following the aforesaid statutory provisions. The contention of the appellant that information can be accessed through Section 18 is contrary to the express provision of Section 19 of the Act. It is well known when a procedure is laid down statutorily and there is no challenge to the said statutory procedure the Court should not, in the name of interpretation, lay down a procedure which is contrary to the express statutory provision. It is a time honoured principle as early as from the decision in Taylor v. Taylor [(1876) 1 Ch. D. 426] that where statute provides for something to be done in a particular manner it can be done in that manner alone and all other modes of performance are necessarily forbidden."
10. The above ratio is applicable to this case as well. Since records of the case do not indicate any such deliberate denial or concealment of information on the part of the PIO, the Commission concluded that there was no cause CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729 Page 7 of 8 of action which would necessitate action under the provisions of the Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 in the instant complaint.
The Complaint is dismissed accordingly.
Jaya Varma Sinha (जया वमा िस ा) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) (Ashutosh Vasistha) Dy. Registrar 011- 26107042 Copy To:
The FAA Pharmacy Council of India NBCC Centre 3rd floor plot no. 2 community centre maa anandmai marg okhla phase I New Delhi-110020 CIC/PHRCI/C/2025/602729 Page 8 of 8 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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