Central Information Commission
Gita Dewan Verma vs President Secretariat on 6 May, 2025
Author: Heeralal Samariya
Bench: Heeralal Samariya
के न्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई दिल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
नितीय अपील संख्या / Second Appeal No. CIC/PRSEC/A/2023/655338
Ms. Gita Dewan Verma ... अपीलकताग/Appellant
VERSUS/बनाम
PIO, ...प्रनतवािीगण /Respondent
President Secretariat
Date of Hearing : 01.04.2025
Date of Decision : 11.04.2025
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Heeralal Samariya
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 29.09.2023
PIO replied on : 12.10.2023
First Appeal filed on : 13.10.2023
First Appellate Order on : 13.11.2023
2 Appeal/complaint received on
nd : 17.12.2023
Information soughtand background of the case:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 29.09.2023 seeking information on following points:-
"I had submitted a petition dated 01.08.2023 on Rashtrapati Bhawan Helpline. It was transferred on 02.08.2023 to CPGRAMS account of DOPT and closed on 07.08.2023 with the remark: FILED. CPGRAMS printouts and my petition (without its enclosures) are reproduced in the document attached. I applied to President s Secretariat for details of the file in which my petition had been FILED. It seems not to have been FILED in the Secretariat. Now, therefore, please provide:
1. File details (number, subject, classification and retention/weeding schedule) of the DOPT file in which my petition dated 01.08.2023 addressed to the Secretary to the President was FILED.
2. Copy of the decision by which it was FILED."
The CPIO, President Secretariat, New Delhi furnished reply dated 12.10.2023 as under:-
1. "The portal petition Nos. PRSEC/E/2023/0030626 dated 01.08.2023 had been received on the same day and the same electronically forwarded to the Secretary, Government of India, Department of Personnel and Training, New Delhi. The Department of Personnel Training has filed petition on 07.08.2023 (Copy Page 1 enclosed). Status report of portal petition is available on the website http://helpline.rb.nic.in. For any further information in this regard, you are requested to approach the concerned public authority to whom the portal petition was forwarded.
2. This Secretariat forwards petition to concerned Ministry/Department of Central/State Government. You are requested to approach concerned authority to whom your petition has been forwarded."
Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 13.10.2023. The FAA vide order dated 13.11.2023 stated as under:-
3. "The matter was considered by the undersigned. It is informed that the information provided by the CPIO, President's Secretariat vide letter No. PRSEC/R/T/23/00097 dated 12.10.2023, holds good. In view of the above referred appeal of the appellant, the first appeal was sent to the Section concerned for comments.
The Section concerned has reiterated its earlier reply, which has already been provided to the appellant by CPIO, President's Secretariat vide letter dated 12.10.2023. No further information rests with this Secretariat.
4. The online appeal is hereby disposed of."
Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Written submission dated 24.03.2025 has been received from the CPIO, President's Secretariat and same has been taken on record for perusal. The relevant extract whereof is as under:
"...6. CPIO COMMENTS:
In the Second Appeal dated Nil, the appellant has challenged the reply of the CPIO dated 12.10.2023 and the decision of the FAA dated 13.11.2023, concerning the RTI application of Ms. Gita Dewan Verma, Delhi dated 03.10.2023.
In this connection, it is stated that the above-mentioned RTI application was transferred to this Secretariat by the Department of Personnel & Training with reference No. No. DOP&T/R/E/23/06181 dated 03.10.2023. It is also stated that a copy of the reply of the CPIO was sent to the Department of Personnel & Training for information. it is also humbly submitted that a point-wise reply was provided to the appellant as under:-
1. The portal petition No. PRSEC/E/2023/0030626 dated 01.08.2023 had been received and the same was electronically forwarded to the Secretary, Government of India. Department of Personnel and Training, New Delhi. The Department of Personnel Training filed the petition on 07.08.2023 (Copy enclosed). The status report of the portal petition is available on the website http://helpline.rb.nic.in. For any further information in this Page 2 regard, The appellant was requested to approach the concerned public authority to whom the portal petition had been forwarded.
2. This Secretariat forwards the petition to the concerned Ministry/Department of Central/State Government. The appellant was requested to approach the concerned. authority to whom her petition had been forwarded."
No more information rests with this Secretariat..."
Written submission dated 29.03.2025 has been received from the Appellant and same has been taken on record for perusal.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Appellant: Present in person.
Respondent: Mr. Bharat Bhushan, Deputy secretary/CPIO- President's Secretariat- participated in the hearing.
The Appellant stated that the relevant information has not been furnished She stated that different custodians are referred in helpline portal and CPGRAM in reference to her petition/representation. She stated that two mutually inconsistent action history has been provided. She requested to initiate inquiry under rule 11(iii) of the RTI Rules 2012 into further details and facts of the action taken on her Helpline petition dated 01.08.2023. She requested to issue recommendations u/s 25(5) for compliance with section 4(1)(d) of the RTI Act in disposal/closure of cases on HELPLINE and CPGRAMS. She further requested to issue direction for publishing information about the Helpline on the portal of the Respondent public authority which currently does not even have FAQ in reference to cases on HELPLINE.
The Respondent stated that the relevant information from their official record has been duly provided to the Appellant. He averred that the portal petition No. PRSEC/E/2023/0030626 dated 01.08.2023 had been received and the same electronically forwarded to the Secretary, Government of India, Department of Personnel and Training, New Delhi for appropriate attention. He stated that the status report of the portal petition is available on their website http://helpline.rb.nic.in. He stated that for any further information in this regard, the appellant was requested to approach the concerned public authority to whom the portal petition was forwarded.
Decision:
Upon perusal of records and submissions made during hearing, it is noted that the Appellant's queries had been appropriately answered by concerned PIO. Furthermore, written submission filed by the Respondent is comprehensive and self-explanatory. Thus, information as permissible under the provisions of the RTI Act has been duly furnished to the Appellant. Furthermore, after examining the facts and records of the case Commission notes that no case of enquiry is made out.
Commission also observes that information should be easily accessible and should be made available to the public and specifically through the internet.
Page 3 Commission is of the considered opinion that it will be in the best interest of Respondent Public Authority to explore the viability of updating their official website and publish the guidelines/policies related to their helpline/portal petitions. Furthermore, to make the system more user friendly the public authority is advised to create a FAQs Section in reference to the helpline/portal petitions on their official website wherein a brief outline pertaining to the issues flagged by the Appellant be easily identified and relevant information in that regard can be placed in the public domain in keeping with the letter and spirit of suo motu disclosures prescribed under Section 4 of the RTI Act. This will also relieve the public authority from the burden of RTI Applications which are filed merely seeking clarifications in reference to helpline/portal petitions and not any specific record.
In pursuance of the aforesaid advisory, the CPIO is directed to place a copy of this order before their competent authority for taking appropriate action. No further action lies.
Appeal is disposed off accordingly.
Heeralal Samariya (हीरालाल सामररया) Chief Information Commissioner (मुख्य सूचना आयुक्त) Authenticated true copy (अनिप्रमानणत सत्यानपत प्रनत) S. K. Chitkara (एस. के . नचटकारा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26186535 Page 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
1. It is recommended to maintain records in digital form for proper management and ease of access in compliance with clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005.
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