Central Information Commission
Mr.K V Thomas vs Life Insurance Corporation Of India on 29 January, 2014
Central Information Commission
Room No.307, II Floor, B Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New
Delhi110066
websitecic.gov.in
Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2013/000386/MP
Appellant : Shri K V Thomas,
Trivandrum
Public Authority : LIC of India , Ernakulam
Date of Hearing : 29 January 2014
Date of Decision : 29 January 2014
Facts:
1. The appellant Shri K. V. Thomas has submitted RTI application dated 28 August 2012 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Life Insurance Corporation of India, Ernakulam; seeking information in relation to status of application for granting of disallowed leave to Mrs. Rani Thomas, formerly Development officer, LIC Branch I, Alappuzha through total of 10 points.
2. Vide CPIO Order dated 25 September 2012, CPIO furnished the requisite information pointwise to the appellant. Not satisfied by the CPIO's reply on point nos.06 to 10, the appellant preferred appeal to the First Appellate Authority dated 18 October 2012. Vide FAA Order dated 19 November 2012, the FAA furnished the requisite information to the appellant.
3. Being aggrieved and not satisfied by the above response of the Public Authority, the Appellant preferred second appeal before the Commission.
4. The matter was heard today via videoconferencing. The appellant Shri K. V Thomas was present and made submissions from Trivandrum. The respondent Shri Sreekesh Nair, CPIO and Ms. Ponnamma Abraham, Manager (PS/SSS/CRM) were also present at the hearing and made submissions from Ernakulum. The appellant in his submission said that he is representing his daughter and he has submitted the power of attorney to the CPIO. He submitted that his daughter, Ms Rani Thomas, had been refused leave for a certain period by the LIC and that he had sent a notarized copy of Ms. Thomas passport and requested for grant of disallowed leave. The appellant also stated that he had not received any letter asking for passport and therefore had demanded a copy of the letter along with the proof of service. He also requested that the copy of the complete file should be provided to him. Further, the appellant sought the copy of the papers relating to refusal of appellant's daughter's application for leave for the period 4/6/20104/7/2010.
5. The CPIO in his rebuttal submitted that as per the Divisional Office letter dated 15/7/2011, Branch office was asked to obtain the Passport of appellant's daughter. Subsequently, Branch office sent the letter dated 18/7/2011 to the appellant's daughter (through ordinary post) which was undelivered. Again vide letter dated 12/12/2011 Divisional Office sent a reminder to the Branch Office. Finally, on 15/12/2011, letter asking the appellant's daughter to submit her Passport was handed over to her in person in the Branch Office. Also as per the prevalent practice in the office, no acknowledgement is taken from the employee on serving any document in person to him/her in the Branch Office. The appellant had refused to acknowledge the receipt of any such letter(s) whatsoever.
Decision Notice
6. In light of the submissions above, Commission directs the CPIO to :
i) Provide a copy of the papers relating to refusal of appellant's daughter's application for leave for the period 4/6/20104/7/2010 to the appellant free of cost.
ii) The CPIO is further directed to provide a confirmation to the Commission with a copy to the appellant in writing specifying clearly that as per the prevalent practice in the office, no acknowledgement is taken from the employee on serving any document in person to him/her in the Branch Office.
iii) The CPIO is also directed to provide an inspection of the files containing the letters, receipt and proof of dispatch of letters relating to the appellant's daughter's leave application case, at a mutually convenient date and time. However, no personal information relating to third party may be disclosed during such inspection.
7. The action on all the above points to be taken within 21 days of the receipt of the order of the Commission.
(Manjula Prasher) Information Commissioner Autnenticated true copy:
(T.K.Mohapatra) Dy. Secretary & Dy. Regostrar Tel.No.01126105027 Copy to:
1. Mr. K.V.Thomas, Vettimoottil, 317, A.K.G.Nagar, Peroorkada PO, Trivandrum695005 Kerala
2. The CPIO under RTI LIC of India, Divisional Office, PB No.1133 MG Road, Ernakulam682011
3. First Appellate Authority under RTI LIC of India, Divisional Office, Jeevan Prakash, M.G.Road, Ernakulam682011