Central Information Commission
Anup Kumar vs Press Information Bureau on 12 March, 2026
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/PINFB/A/2025/624212
Anup kumar .....अपीलकर्ाग /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO : Press information Bureau, ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
office of Automation Section, A wing,
Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi 110001.
Date of Hearing : 11-03-2026
Date of Decision : 11-03-2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Khushwant Singh Sethi
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 01-03-2025
CPIO replied on : 02-04-2025
First appeal filed on : 31-03-2025
First Appellate Authority's order : 08-05-2025
2nd Appeal dated : 27-05-2025
CIC/PINFB/A/2025/624212 Page 1 of 6
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 01-03-2025 seeking the following information:
"GeM Tender No.- GEM/2024/B/4443163, Dated: 05-01-2024 for Hiring an agency to provide a Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC) for the Audio-Visual & CCTV systems installed at National Media Centre, Raisina Road, New Delhi, and subsequent PO awarded to M/s INFINITI E-COMMERCE PRIVATE LIMITED vide PO No. GEMC-511687749472134. 1. As per the tender clause, Manufacturer authorization (MAF) was asked from four OEMs i.e., Sony, CISCO, Delta and Polycom. Out of these 4 OEMS 2 MAFs were mandatory. Please share the copy of MAFs submitted by M/s Infiniti E-Commerce Private Limited & Krishna Enterprises.
Additionally, if submitted MAF were verified from the respective OEM, please share a copy of the correspondence related to this verification. If they were not verified, kindly explain the reason. 2. Please share the Copy of GST of M/s Infiniti E-Commerce Private Limited and M/s Krishna Enterprises with a list of directors in the respective companies. 3. Please share the latest invoice(Q2 July to Sept. 24 & Q3-Oct.-Dec. 24) copy of M/s Infiniti E-Commerce Private Limited against PO No PO No. GEMC-511687749472134. 4. Please provide a copy of Ethe PF and ESIC certificate of the company M/s Infiniti E-Commerce Private Limited. 5. As per clause no. III under 04. MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: of the above-mentioned tender(04. MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:), Please share a Copy of the Work Orders/Satisfactory Work Completion Certificate submitted by M/s Infiniti E-Commerce Private Limited.
6. Please provide a copy list of items/accessories related to IT Hardware and Audio Video system under running CAMC, procured during 01st April 24 till date. Additionally, please include copies of all purchase orders issued for these procurements as supporting documents. 7. Please refer to clause no. III under
04. MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA of the subject tender(of the estimated cost). Value of Similar Completed Work during past years was not defined in the tender. As per Clause no.. 9.15.2 outlines Qualifying criteria: under Serial CIC/PINFB/A/2025/624212 Page 2 of 6 No.-II Past Experience) of Procurement Manual of Services & Consultancy issued by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance:- Definition of similar services should be clearly defined along with Value of completed services asked the bidder in past years is missing in tender. Kindly explain the reason. 8. Please refer to GEMC-511687741450873, dated 30-Jul-2024 issued to M/s Terrabyte Technologies for Comprehensive VC setup at 4th Floor VC Room, Please confirm the date when the entire system was installed and became operational. Please share the copy of the supporting document."
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 02-04-2025 stating as under:
"1-5: The third party details like, MAF from OEMS, GST, etc. cannot be disclosed as per the section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, 2005. The said sub section read as follows: "information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information.
6. The details of items covered under CAMC are already mentioned in the bid document.
Please refer to GeM tender no.GEM/2024/B/4443163.
7. The CPIO cannot provide intangibles such interpretations, opinions, advice, explanations, reasons, etc. The Queries/ Clarifications or interpretations of information are outside the purview of RTI Act 2005.
8. The GeM contract orders are available in the public domain on the website portal https://gem.gov.in . The system was made operational within the delivery and installation period mentioned in gem contract. "
3. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 31-03-2025. The FAA vide its order dated 08-05-2025, upheld the reply given by the CPIO.
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
CIC/PINFB/A/2025/624212 Page 3 of 6Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Absent.
Respondent: Ms. Avi Goswami, AD (M & C) along with Mr. Sumit Sehrawat, Section Officer, attended the hearing in person.
5. The Respondent submitted that the appellant sought copy of GST of M/s Infiniti E-Commerce Private Limited and M/s Krishna Enterprises with a list of directors in the respective companies, details of items covered under CAMC which are already mentioned in the bid document etc. The respondent submitted that the sought MAF from OEMS, GST etc. pertain to third-party and disclosure of the same would harm their competitive position. Hence, the sought information was denied U/s 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act. The respondent also submitted that, during the bid evaluation stage, participants bidders are able to view documents submitted by other bidders through the GeM portal. After the award of the contract, the Contract Order and other relevant details of the successful bidder are available in the public domain on the GeM portal to ensure transparency in public procurement.
6. The Commission queried the respondent as to whether they can provide the specific website link for the point nos. 6 and 8. To this, the respondent agreed.
7. Written submission dated 10.03.2026 filed by the respondent is taken on record.
Decision:
8. The Commission, after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the respondent and perusal of the records, observes that the CIC/PINFB/A/2025/624212 Page 4 of 6 respondent gave an appropriate reply to the appellant for all the points except for point nos. 6 and 8. During the hearing, the respondent agreed to provide specific website links for the aforesaid points. In view of the above, the respondent is directed to provide a revised reply to the appellant for point nos. 6 and 8, incorporating the specific website links. The respondent shall provide the aforesaid revised reply to the appellant, 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. Accordingly, the appeal is disposed of.
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: 11.03.2026 Authenticated true copy S. K. Chitkara (एस. के. नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26107026 Copy To:
1. The CPIO Press information Bureau, office of Automation Section, A wing, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi 110001.CIC/PINFB/A/2025/624212 Page 5 of 6
2. The FAA, Press information Bureau, office of Automation Section, A wing, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi 110001.
3. Anup Kumar CIC/PINFB/A/2025/624212 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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