Central Information Commission
Shri Surendra Kumar vs Union Public Serves Commission (Upsc) on 27 November, 2008
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Appeal No. CIC/WB/A/2007/00874 dated 19-8-2007
Right to Information Act 2005 - Section 19
Appellant: Shri Surendra Kumar
Respondent: Union Public Serves Commission (UPSC)
FACTS
By an application of 30-3-07 received on 2-4-07 Shri Surendra Kumar of Pitampura, Delhi applied to Shri Vasumitra, CPIO & JS (Exam.) UPSC seeking the following information:
"(A) Number of candidates recruited year wise for various post (whose result declared after 2.7.1997). Since 1997 to March 2007 in following format and number of candidates who passed the various exams without relaxation and finally selected by UPSC for appointment.
Format for supplying the information is given in Annexure-1. The information's may please be supplied in format (Annexure -
1) for years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 (till March). The list of exams given in the format. In addition to examinations mentioned in Annexure-1, if any other examination has been conducted by UPSC for direct recruitment during year from 1997 to March 2007, the information may also be supplied in format given in Annexure-1.
(B) UPSC also conducts the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for promotion for various post or various departments. The details of numbers of candidates selected on the basis of such examination may please furnished in the format (Annexure-1) for the period from July 1997 to March 2007.
(C) SC, ST and OBC Candidates selected on the merit basis (without relaxation) will occupy general point in the roster, whether the names of such candidates has been informed to the concerned department specifically mentioning that those particulars candidates belongs to SC/ST/OBC category qualified the exam on merit basis not on relaxed standard?
(1) If names has been informed in case of direct recruitments to various department as requested in above "C". The name of examination, post, category, name of candidates may please be 1 supplied for a period July 1997 to March 2007 in format Annexure-II.
(2) Similar information as requested in C (1) above may also be supplied for candidates selected on the basis of limited departmental competitive examination or a period July 1997 to March 2007 in Annexure -II.
(D) In case names of such reserved category candidates who passed the examination for direct recruitment and limited departmental competitive examination on their merit (without availing any relaxation) not informed to concerned department that they have passed the exam on their merit. Such candidates will be adjusted on reserved point in the roster and it will be against the Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgement in case of R. K. Sabharwal vs. State Of Punjab and J. C. Malik vs. Ministry of Railway. It will be contrary to instruction issued by DOP&T vide Office memorandum No. 36012/2/96- Restt (Res) dated 2/7/97 and dated 11.7.2002. In view of above following may please be furnished.
(1) Reason for not intimating the names of reserved category candidate who have passed the examination for direct recruitment and limit departmental competitive examination on their own merit (Without availing any relaxation) to the concerned department.
(2) Name and designation of official responsible for this act of omission in various exams during year 1997 to 2007, may please be intimated.
(3) In present situation/ circumstances what remedial action can be taken so that reserved candidates who passed the exam on own merit shall occupy general point, not the reserve points.
(E) The Govt. intentions are very clear, as Govt. wants to increase the representation of SC, St and OBC category beyond fixed percentage i.e. reserve candidate who qualify the exam on the basis of their own merits will be adjusted against unreserved points (General point) and who will qualify the exam on basis of relaxed standard, they will occupy the reserve points as per DOP&T OM dated 2.7.1997. There are very much chances that some of UPSC official who does not want that number of reserve category candidates (SC/ST/OBC) shall go beyond 50% even if they qualify the examination on their own merit without availing any relaxation, whatever may be the Govt. Instructions or Hon'ble Supreme Court 2 Judgement, they will peruse their own agenda by will full act of omission.
As per DOP&AR OM No. 36011/7/80-Estt (SCT) dated 1.11.80 and OM No. 41016/4/93-Est (SCT) dated 15.3.1993 is clearly instructed that "Glaring instances of discrimination or deliberate in fraction of orders relating to reservation and concessions in favour of SC/ST in any office or establishment should immediately brought to notice of appropriate authority for suitable action. Ministries/ department/ authorities should ensure that whenever the cases of such nature are brought to their notice of appropriate authorities, suitable action is also taken promptly. It is further instructed that suitable action initiated against officials for deliberate negligence and lapses in the matter of following reservation and other orders relating to SC/ST.
(1) In view of above DOP&T OM dated 1.11.80 and 15.3.93, action proposed against official responsible for deliberate in fraction of order related to reservation and concession in favour of SC/ST by way of wilful omission may please be intimated.
(2) Clear instruction is given in above DOP&T OM dated 1.11.80 and 15.3.2007 for immediate action against erring officials. Time frame for taking the action may please be intimated."
To his he received a response dated 1.5.07 from Shri Ataur Rahman, Dy. Secretary and CPIO, UPSC as follows:
"Para (A) Available information in respect of following Examinations is enclosed as Annexure-1.
(i) Civil Service Exam.
(ii) Engineering Service Exam.
(iii) Indian Forest Services Exam.
(iv) Geologist Exam.
(v) Central Police forces Exam.
(vi) IES/ ISS Exam.
(vii) CMS Exam.
(viii) SCRA Exam.
It may be noted that for the Combined Defence Services and NDA & NA Exams, there are no provisions of reservations for SC/ST/OBC candidates.
Para (B): Information sought for cannot be divulged being personal & third party information in nature and no public interest is served thereby 3 Para (C): The result of an examination forwarded to the nodal Ministry/ Dep't. for allocation, is indicative of information regarding reserved Category candidates qualified on General Merit. Further responsibility of maintaining vacancy rosters and placement of those candidates in such rosters is done by the Cadre Controlling Authority after the allocation of recommended candidates.
Para (D): Question regarding the requisite information does not arise in view of reply to Para (C ) above.
Para (E): Since this Para contains some baseless allegations against the Commission, in view of the fact that the Commission conducts its Examinations and follow the provisions of reservations contained in the Examination Rules in its letter and spirit, this Para needs no reply."
However on not having received the response till 14.5.2007 appellant moved his first appeal before the First Appellate Authority, UPSC on that date. First Appellate Authority Shri V. P. Singh, JS (E), UPSC in his order of 28.5.2007 examined this matter and found that the response has actually been sent. In consequence he found that the appeal "no longer sustains. A copy of the reply dated 1-5-07 from the CPIO, UPSC to the appellant, nonetheless, is enclosed for his reference."
Appellant Shri Surendra Kumar's prayer before us in his second appeal is as follows:-
"1) CPIO may be directed to supply all the information's as requested in my RTI Application dated 30.3.2007.
2) PIO is refusing to give the information taking wrong Shelter or third party ignoring importance of public interest. CPIO failed to supply the information as well reply to my letter dated 22.5.2007 within 30 days.
Necessary penalty may be imposed for their callous attitude toward public.
3) PIO has failed to supply the information within prescribed time limit of 30 days and giving misleading reply regarding third party as Para (B) and incomplete & misleading reply on Para (C ). No proper reply on Para (D) & (E) has been given by PIO. CIC may recommend disciplinary action against the PIO and Appellate Authority."
4The appeal was heard on 27-11-08. The following are present.
Respondents Shri Naresh Kaushik, Advocate.
Ms. Amita Kalkal Chaudhary, Advocate.
Shri M Mukhopadhyay, Under Secretary, UPSC. Shri T. C. Naulak, SO, UPSC.
Although informed of the date of the hearing through our letter dated 17.11.2008 appellant Shri Surendra Kumar opted not to be present.
DECISION NOTICE We find the reasons for delay in receipt of the information supplied by CPIO Shri Ataur Rehman stands reasonably explained in the orders of First Appellate Authority. Appellant Shri Surendra Kumar in a petition of 6.6.2007 to First Appellate Authority Shri V. P. Singh has stated that the information supplied by CPIO is incomplete. However, he has made no first appeal with regard to this information supplied, with the result that in responding to this petition Shri V. P. Singh through his letter of 20.6.2007 has informed the appellant that since appeal made by him had already been disposed of "nothing more remained to be decided".
In his second appeal before us Shri Surendra Kumar has not specified any shortcomings that he has found in the CPIO's reply. This question has also not been addressed by the First Appellate Authority. If not satisfied with the response received from the CPIO, a matter which he has not questioned through a first appeal before the First Appellate Authority, it was open to appellant Shri Surendra Kumar to move a fresh first appeal u/s 19 (1), since that recourse has not been exhausted on grounds of the information supplied to him, the earlier appeal having only been with regard to late receipt of information, a question that stands disposed of by first appellate authority Shri VP Singh.
Under the circumstances we find no substance in this appeal, which is hereby dismissed, since there is no order of the 1st appellate authority that it contests. Shri Surendra Kumar may make a first appeal to First Appellate 5 Authority Shri V. P. Singh, JS (E), UPSC u/s 19(1) of the Act, and if not satisfied with the response in 1st appeal it will be open to him to move a second appeal afresh before us u/s 19 (3) of the RTI Act, 2005.
Announced in the hearing. Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties.
(Wajahat Habibullah) Chief Information Commissioner 27-11-2008 Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied against application and payment of the charges prescribed under the Act to the CPIO of this Commission.
(Pankaj K.P. Shreyaskar) Joint Registrar 27-11-2008 6