Central Information Commission
Sumukh Pinge vs Ministry Of Petroleum & Natural Gas 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/MOPNG/A/2025/100862
Sumukh Pinge .....अपीलकर्ाग /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO : Petroleum Conservation and ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
Research Association, Sanrakshan
Bhawan, 10, Bhikaji Cama Place,
New Delhi - 110066.
Date of Hearing : 23-03-2026
Date of Decision : 23-03-2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Khushwant Singh Sethi
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 03-05-2024
CPIO replied on :
First appeal filed on : 06-06-2024
First Appellate Authority's order :
2nd Appeal dated : 07-01-2025
CIC/MOPNG/A/2025/100862 Page 1 of 7
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 03-05-2024 seeking the following information:
"I, Sumukh Pinje, under the provisions of the Right to Information Act 2005, respectfully request the following information concerning my scholarship awarded by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) after winning the National Finals of the Fuel Saving League Quiz in 2015. I have attempted to resolve this matter through regular communication channels without success, which compels me to invoke my rights under the RTI Act.
1. Scholarship Award Status: I was awarded a scholarship of Rs. 100.000 annually until the completion of my undergraduate studies for winning the aforementioned quiz. I kindly request the details of the scholarship disbursements due for the years 2021 and 2022, including any action taken reports so far.
2. Handling Officers Details: Please provide the names and designations of the officers who were assigned to handle my scholarship disbursement process during these periods. Additionally, inchide any reasons for the delay or failure in the disbursement of the scholarship funds as per the commitments made.
3. Communication Records: I have sent multiple correspondences over the past two yours without receiving any replios. Kindly inform me about the internal status of my correspondence, including the details of where these were directed within your organization, and provide copies of any responses generated but not dispatched.
4. Scholarship Disbursement Policy: Please provide detailed information and documents regarding the policy or guidelines under which such scholarships are managed and disbursed by PCRA. This includes the processes and timelines stipulated for scholarship management and disbursement."CIC/MOPNG/A/2025/100862 Page 2 of 7
2. Having not received any response from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 06-06-2024. FAA's order, which is not adjudicated as per the record of the Commission.
3. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Appellant's authorized representative Mr. Dattaram Ramesh Pinge, attended the hearing through video conference.
Respondent: Mr. Rajan Kumar, Joint Director & CPIO, attended the hearing in person.
4. The Appellant stated that the appellant got scholarship while he was studying in Class 9 which was to be continued till his completion of undergraduate in Engineering. Thereafter, he got the scholarship till 2020. However, he had not received the scholarship amount for the years 2021 and 2022. Hence, he had filed the instant RTI application seeking Handling Officers' Details, Scholarship Disbursement Policy etc.
5. The Respondent submitted that vide general meeting dated 17.03.2023, a resolution was taken to dissolve the public authority PCRA by 30.06.2023. Also, the officers working in PCRA returned to their parent organizations and hence, CIC/MOPNG/A/2025/100862 Page 3 of 7 it was presumed that the RTI portal was also presumed to be closed. Some functions related to R & D of PCRA have been merged with Centre for Higher Technology, MoPNG.
6. Written submission dated 20.03.2026 along with letter dated 22.06.2022 filed by the respondent are taken on record and relevant portion of the same is reproduced below:
"I am directed to refer to Department of Expenditure's D.O. letter No. 7(105)/FMC Cell/2020 dated 11.09.2020 (copy enclosed), regarding report on Rationalization of Autonomous Bodies of 10 Ministries/Departments inter alia recommending merger of Centre for High Technology (CHT) and Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) with a unified board to be formed by the merger of Oil Industries Development Board (OIDB) and Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), Cabinet Secretariat vide OM No. 1/48/1/2018-Cab dated 25.09.2020 (copy enclosed), directed Ministries to implement to implement the recommendations of Department of Expenditure as contained in its report on the subject matter.
2. In compliance of above directions, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has decided as under:
i. Dissolution of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA);
ii. Entrustment of Activities of PCRA to Centre for High Technology (CHT) and OMCs to the following effect:CIC/MOPNG/A/2025/100862 Page 4 of 7
a. Research Activities of PCRA may be carried out by CHI and such Research Activities currently under progress under PCRA may be handed over to CHT.
b. Conservation Activities may be carried out by OMCs.
iii. Upon dissolution and after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, the remaining property of PCRA may be given to other society such as CHT, as per extant provisions of law."
7. The appellant requested to consider payment of the scholarship amount due to his son. The respondent assured to help him in this regard by bringing the matter to the attention of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG), if the appellant makes a representation in this regard.
Decision:
8. 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 submitted the RTI application to PCRA. The PCRA is now stands dissolved. However, during the hearing, the respondent assured to help the appellant in this regard by taking up the matter with MOPNG, if the appellant makes a representation in this regard. The Commission finds that as per the letter dated 22.06.2022, there is mention about debts and liabilities of PCRA and some arrangements were made to adjust the same, remaining property of PCRA was given to other society such as Centre for High Technology (CHT). Hence, no further relief is warranted. Accordingly, the appeal is disposed of.
CIC/MOPNG/A/2025/100862 Page 5 of 79. The Commission finds that the copy of the Written submission of the respondent is not endorsed to the appellant and hence, the respondent CHT is directed to serve a copy of their written submission dated 20.03.2026, along with the annexures therein, to the appellant's email ID (as mentioned in RTI Application), in compliance with point no. 4(a) of the Hearing Notice of the Commission, 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: 23.03.2026 Authenticated true copy S. K. Chitkara (एस. के. नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26107026 Copy To:
1. The CPIO Centre for High Technology, OIDB Bhawan, Tower A, 9th Floor Plot No. 2, Sector -73 Noida-201316 CIC/MOPNG/A/2025/100862 Page 6 of 7
2. Nodal CPIO, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
3. Sumukh Pinge CIC/MOPNG/A/2025/100862 Page 7 of 7 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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