Central Information Commission
Mr. Karamjit Singh Ahuja vs Ministry Of Human Resource Development on 21 December, 2010
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/WB/A/2010/000866AD
Date of Hearing : December 21, 2010
Date of Decision : December 21, 2010
Parties:
Applicant
Shri Karajit Singh Aujla
Editor
Sewa Lehar Monthly
#9516, Joshi Nagar
Haibowal Kalan
Ludhiana 141 001
The Applicant was not present for the hearing
Respondent
National Book Trust
Nehru Bhawan
5 Institutional area
Phase II, Vasant Kunj
New Delhi
Represented by : Shri Hari Mohan Arora, PIO & DD, Ms.Farida M.Naik, Apellate Authority and
Shri Baldev Singh Badan, JD
Information Commissioner : Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
___________________________________________________________________
Decision Notice
The Commission directs the Appellant to pay the required amount of photocopying charges and
obtain the information, if he so desires. It may be noted that the copies of documents were only
sought at the appeal stage and that the photocopying charges were sought by the PIO within one
month of receiving the request in the first appeal. As for information against point (iv), the
Commission denies the information u/s 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act as the information is personal in
nature and since the disclosure would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the
individual.
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/WB/A/2010/000866AD
ORDER
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.3.4.10 with the PIO, NBT seeking information against 11 points with regard to the details of functions arranged by NBT during the period 1.4.07 to 31.3.10 and against 7 points seeking details of Punjabi books which has been translated to English, Hindi and other Indian languages by the NBT during the above mentioned period. The PIO replied on 29.4.10 providing detailed reply. Not satisfied with the reply, the Applicant filed an appeal dt.Nil with the Appellate Authority seeking the following information:
i) Copies of all the vouchers which were filled by all the participants while attending all the ten functions of NBT
ii) Copies of all the bills which were supplied by the owners of the Hotels vide which the NBT made payments to the Hotels regarding the accommodation arranged for the participants.
iii) Names and complete address of all the participants.
iv) Copies of the opinions of the experts which recommended/rejected the Punjabi books for translation to other languages.
2. Shri Satish Kumar, Appellate Authority replied on 2.7.10 requesting the Applicant to deposit Rs.120/ towards supply of 60 pages of information against points (i) to (iii) of the first appeal while denying the information against point (iv) u/s 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act. Being aggrieved with the reply, the Applicant filed a second appeal dt.3.8.10 before CIC.
3. During the hearing, the Respondents submitted that the copies of supporting documents were not sought by the Appellant in his RTI application and were sought only in the first appeal.
4. The Commission after hearing the submission by the Respondents directs the Appellant to pay the required amount of photocopying charges and obtain the information, if he so desires. It may be noted that the copies of documents were only sought at the appeal stage and that the photocopying charges were sought within one month of receiving the request in the first appeal. Asfor information against point (iv), the Commission denies the information u/s 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act as the information is personal and since the disclosure would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.
5. The appeal is accordingly disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy (G.Subramanian) Deputy Registrar Cc:
1 Shri Karajit Singh Aujla Editor Sewa Lehar Monthly #9516, Joshi Nagar Haibowal Kalan Ludhiana 141 001
2. The Public Information Officer National Book Trust Nehru Bhawan 5 Institutional area Phase II, Vasant Kunj New Delhi
3. The Appellate Authority National Book Trust Nehru Bhawan 5 Institutional area Phase II, Vasant Kunj New Delhi
4. Officer Incharge, NIC