Central Information Commission
Mr.Pradeep Soni vs Staff Selection Commission on 27 June, 2012
Central Information Commission, New Delhi
File No.CIC/SM/A/2011/001831
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Date of hearing : 27 June 2012
Date of decision : 27 June 2012
Name of the Appellant : Shri Pardeep Soni,
S/o. Shri Harish Chand Soni,
R/o. Birbal Ka Mohalla,
Alwar, Rajasthan.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Staff Selection Commission,
Department of Personnel & Training,
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances &
Pensions, Block No. 12, Kendriya Karyalaya
Parisar, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.
First Appellate Authority,
Staff Selection Commission,
Department of Personnel & Training,
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances &
Pensions, Block No. 12, Kendriya Karyalaya
Parisar, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.
The Appellant was present.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri Kashi Nath Ram, Dy. Dir (CII) was
present.
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra The Appellant was present in the Alwar studio the NIC while the Respondent was present in our chamber. We heard both their submissions.
2. The Appellant had sought a number of information concerning the data entry skill test for the post of Tax Assistant in which he had appeared on 21 November 2010. He received no satisfactory response from the CPIO and CIC/SM/A/2011/001831 certainly not within the stipulated period. It is also not clear if the Appellate Authority had passed any order on his first appeal.
3. During the hearing, the Appellant submitted that he had been waiting for so long for the information. He also submitted that he had faced many difficulties in filing the RTI application as the office concerned in the SSC had refused to accept it. The Respondent pointed out that the entire matter related to the northern regional office of the SSC and that whatever information was supposed to be provided should have been given by that office. Be that as it may, the fact remains that the Appellant has been deprived of the information he had sought a long time back without any reasonable cause. In the process, he has suffered a lot of detriment and harassment. For this, he needs to be compensated. In exercise of the powers vested in the CIC under subsection 8(b) of section 19 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, we direct the SSC to compensate the Appellant by an amount of Rs. 5000. The CPIO is directed to ensure that this amount is remitted to the Appellant within 20 working days of receiving this order.
4. As far as the information is concerned, we direct the CPIO concerned, whether in the SSC headquarters or in its northern regional office, to provide the desired information, point wise, within 10 working days of receiving this order.
5. About the delay in the case and nonsupply of adequate and satisfactory information, the CPIO concerned must appear before us and show cause why penalty in terms of the provisions of subsection 1 of section 20 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act should not be imposed on him for this. We direct the present CPIO to forward a copy of this order to the responsible officer to appear CIC/SM/A/2011/001831 before the Commission (Room No. 306, 2nd Floor, B Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi - 110 066) on 6 August 2012 at 12.30 p.m. and explain if he had any reasonable cause for not providing the desired information satisfactorily within the stipulated period. We will decide on the penalty after considering his explanation.
6. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
7. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra) Chief Information Commissioner 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.
(Vijay Bhalla) Deputy Registrar CIC/SM/A/2011/001831