Central Information Commission
Suresh Kumar Khetawat vs Canara Bank on 31 July, 2024
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग ,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या / Second Appeal No. CIC/CANBK/A/2023/115468
Suresh Kumar Khetawat ... अपीलकता /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: Canara Bank,
Sonitpur ... ितवादीगण/Respondent
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI : 29.11.2022 FA : 24.01.2023 SA : 03.04.2023
CPIO : 26.12.2022 FAO : 14.03.2023 Hearing : 30.07.2024
Date of Decision: 31.07.2024
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
_ANANDI RAMALINGAM
ORDER
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 29.11.2022 seeking information on the following points:
(i) a) Regarding:- Your Trade License under Jurisdiction of Nagaon Municipality renewed up to only 2004-2005. As information received by Nagaon Municipality Board Nagaon Assam- Your bank belongs to public money and dealing in public money why bank failed to renewed his Trade License? Please specify the reason.
Please also furnish a copy of trade license.
Page 1 of 4(ii) a) Please furnish the list of Bank Manager, Senior Manager, stating name date of joining, date of transfer and expenses incurred by Bank all together as their salary and allowance etc from the period 2004-2005 to up to date
(b) Please furnish the list of Chief Manager appointed in Nagaon Canara bank branch from the period 2004-2005 to up to date and the amount paid by bank Nagaon branch all together under this head
(c) Please furnish the list of internal auditor's name that had inspected the Nagaon Branch from the period 2004-2005 and submitted their internal audit report whether point of renewal of trade license of bank issued by Municipality board Nagaon was raised? Details of payment made to them by Canara Bank Nagaon or head office Canara bank in reference to internal report submitted by them.
(d) Please Furnish the list of name of external auditor who had conducted the external audit and submitted their external audit report of Canara Nagaon Branch and whether mentioned regarding any note of renewed of trade license of Canara Bank Nagaon bank issued by Municipality board Nagaon and any trade license fee due shown in the balance sheet as liability.
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 26.12.2022 and the same is reproduced as under:-
"The details of information sought in point 1 we would like to state that the trade license under jurisdiction of Nagaon Municipality is in order as per our records.
The details of information sought under point 2 (A), (B), (C) & (D), disclosure of personal information of employees would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual and I am also not satisfied that the larger public interest is justified for disclosure of such information. Hence the sought information is exempted from disclosure under Section 8 (1)(j) of RTI Act 2005 and accordingly, the information is denied."Page 2 of 4
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 24.01.2023 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 14.03.2023 upheld the reply given by the CPIO and observed:
"Considering your application, the details of information sought in point 1, we are attaching a copy of the latest trade license of Nowgong Branch.
Regarding information sought under point 2 (A), (B), (C) & (D), I find that the Public Information Officer, Canara Bank, Regional Office Tezpur had responded to your application with proper explanations as per rules/decisions made under RTI Act. Therefore, I don't find any scope to interfere with the decision taken by the PIO. However, the salary bank of each cadre of employees is available in the bank's website www.canarabank.com."
4. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 03.04.2023.
5. The appellant and on behalf of the respondent Shri Thangza Nwan, Divisional Manager, attended the hearing through video conference.
6. The appellant inter alia submitted that the information provided by the respondent was false and misleading. The information sought by him was concerning the issue of conduct of audit carried out in Nagaon Branch. The appellant further contended that the disclosure of the information was related to public service dealing in public money, hence, was warranted in larger public interest.
7. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that they had disclosed the copy of the trading license of Nagaon Branch to the appellant vide FAA's order dated 14.03.2023. Further, the appellant had raised objections with respect to the contents of the License Agreement and the same could not be addressed as per the provisions of the RTI Act. Moreover, the list of Managers and Auditors discharging specific duties, could not be disclosed since the same was not only exempted under Section Page 3 of 4 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act but the disclosure of the same could hamper the physical safety of those officers.
8. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both parties and perusal of records, observes that appropriate reply was given by the CPIO, as per provisions of the RTI Act. Further, the FAA shared the copy of the latest trading license of Nowgong Branch with the appellant. That being so, there appears to be no scope for further relief in the matter. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Sd/-
आनंदी राम लंगम)
(Anandi Ramalingam) (आनं म
सूचना आयु )
Information Commissioner (सू
दनांक/Date: 31.07.2024
Authenticated true copy
Col S S Chhikara (Retd) (कन ल एस एस िछकारा ( रटायड ))
Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक)
011-26180514
Addresses of the parties:
1. The CPIO
Canara Bank, Regional Office: Tezpur,
MIPD & P.P. Section, 1st Floor,
Muskan Plaza, Near Tribeni Complex,
Tezpur, Sonitpur, Assam - 784001
2. Suresh Kumar Khetawat
Page 4 of 4
Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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