Central Information Commission
Vijay Deorao Mankar vs Electronics Corporation Of India Ltd. on 11 August, 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/ECOIL/A/2024/129408.
Shri. Vijay Deorao Mankar. ... अपीलकताग/Appellant
VERSUS/बनाम
PIO, ...प्रनतवािीगण /Respondent
Electronics Corporation of India Ltd.
Date of Hearing : 07.08.2025
Date of Decision : 07.08.2025
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Heeralal Samariya
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 28.05.2024
PIO replied on : 09.07.2024
First Appeal filed on : 30.06.2024
First Appellate Order on : 18.07.2024
2ndAppeal/complaint received on : 22.09.2024
Information soughtand background of the case:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 28.05.2024 seeking information on following points:-
"1. User Manual on Symbol Loading Unit (SLU).
2. Following details about the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) being manufactured by BEL and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT):
(a) The type of microcontrollers used in the Control Unit (CU) OF EVM. Give technical specifications and Assembly language used.
(b) The type of Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU) used in the CPU of EVM, and VVPAT. Give speed of CPU in MIPS, BI PS or TIPS.
(c) The type of software and firmware, and programming language used to write the software code & machine code of EVM, and VVPAT. Give its size in Kilobytes / Gigabytes and provide the copy of Software License.
(d) Capacity of CU in bytes to store data memory.
(e) Type of memory used in EVM and VVPAT. Type of semiconductor used for it and electronically data storage media used.
(f) Is the VVPAT firmware a high optical level firmware ? What is its size in Kilobytes/Gigabytes?
(g) What is the type of memory and capacity in bytes of the Bitmapfile used in SLU?
(h) Type of printer used in VVPAT is whether MFP, A10 or VP?
(i) Under which Law the source code, object code, machine code of EVMs, VVPATS, SLUs are written? Types of high level programming or language used.
Page 1
3. Under which License and Indian /International Standards the EVMs, VVPATS, SLUS are being manufactured? Provide the details.
(a) Under which Act & Rules the authorized agencies of BEL are operating VVPAT, SLU and EVMs. Quote the Sections & Rules specifically.
(b) Who is holding the patent of EVMs, VVPAT and SLU and their software.
4. The integrated microchip is obtained from which companies? Give specifications of the microchip and name of patent holder."
The CPIO, vide letter dated 09.07.2024 replied as under:-
"1. The information requested is related to Commercial confidential & held in fiduciary relationship. Exemption is claimed Under Section 8(1)(d) , 8(1)(e) of RTI Act, 2005.
Hence, no information could be provided..
2. This Query Pertains to M/s. BEL. Hence, the query is being transferred to BEL U/s 6(3) for providing necessary information.
3. EVM manufacturing facility in ECIL is currently ISO 9001:2015 certified by STQC Certification services. 3a. This Query Pertains to M/s. BEL. Hence, the query is being transferred to BEL U/s 6(3) for providing necessary information. 3b. Patents for currently used EVMs (M3), VVPAT and SLU are not held with ECIL.
Please refer FAQ No 06 of General Queries / Introductory on available ECI website at the URL: www.eci.gov.in.evm-vvpat.
4. The information requested is voluminous; it may divert the resources of this Public Authority. Further, the requested information contains details of Components used in a Machine which is being used in democratic process of the Country. The disclosure may harm the interest of this Public Authority. Hence, exemption is claimed under Section 8(1)(d) and 7(9) of RTI Act, 2005. Accordingly information could be provided."
Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 30.06.2024. The FAA, ECIL, Hyderabad vide order dated 18.07.2024 replied as under:-
"Decision:
05. The RTI application, Appeal has been examined with relevant records, and observed that CPIO has provided information received from the concerned DPIO on 09.07.2024, to the applicant.
06. No further information of this authority is required in this matter.
Accordingly, the appeal is hereby disposed off."
Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Appellant: Present through video-conferencing.
Respondent: Mr. Sriram Saran Prasad, CPIO/Sr. DGM (Law) - participated in the hearing through video-conferencing.
Page 2 The Appellant stated that information sought at point No. 1, 3, 3(b) and 4 of the RTI Application has not been furnished to him till date. He averred that information sought should be disclosed in larger public interest.
The Respondent stated that the point-wise reply has been duly provided to the Appellant. Furthermore, information as available in their records has been furnished to the Appellant.
Decision:
Keeping in view the facts of the case and the submissions made during hearing, the Commission is of the view that an appropriate response as per the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 has been provided by the Respondent. The reply is self- explanatory and information as permissible under the provisions of the RTI Act has been duly supplied to the Appellant. In the given circumstances, no further intervention of the Commission is warranted in this case under the RTI Act. The 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 3 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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