Central Information Commission
Vipin Jain vs Bank Of India on 28 November, 2018
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग
, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द
ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या / Second Appeal Nos.
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606643 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606685
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606686 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606687
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606688 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606689
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606690 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606691
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606692 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606693
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606694 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606695
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606696 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606699
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606701 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606703
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606705 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606706
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606708 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606709
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606713 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606714
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606716 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606718
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606719 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606725
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606726 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606728
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606729 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606731
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606732 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606733
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606734 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606742
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606743 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606745
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606747 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606748
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606749 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606763
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606764 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606765
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606767 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606768
Page 1 of 8
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606770 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606771
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606772 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606773
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606797 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606798
CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/607001
Vipin Jain ... अपीलकता /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO, Bank of India, Zonal Office: ... ितवादीगण /Respondents
Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
Date of Date of Date of Date of
Sr.
File Nos. Date of RTI reply First order of Second
No.
of CPIO Appeal FAA Appeal
1 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606643 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 18.10.2017
2 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606685 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
3 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606686 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
4 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606687 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
5 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606688 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
6 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606689 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
7 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606690 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
8 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606691 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
9 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606692 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
10 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606693 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
11 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606694 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
12 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606695 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
13 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606696 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
14 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606699 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
15 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606701 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
16 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606703 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
17 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606705 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
18 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606706 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
Page 2 of 8
19 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606708 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
20 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606709 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
21 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606713 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
22 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606714 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
23 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606716 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
24 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606718 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
25 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606719 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
26 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606725 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
27 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606726 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
28 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606728 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
29 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606729 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
30 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606731 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
31 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606732 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
32 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606733 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
33 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606734 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
34 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606742 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
35 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606743 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
36 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606745 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
37 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606747 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
38 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606748 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
39 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606749 05.08.2017 01.09.2017 06.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
40 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606763 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
41 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606764 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
42 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606765 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
43 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606767 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
44 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606768 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
45 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606770 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
46 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606771 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
47 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606772 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
48 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606773 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
49 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606797 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
50 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606798 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
51 CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/607001 09.08.2017 01.09.2017 10.09.2017 04.10.2017 20.10.2017
ORDER
1. Shri Vipin Jain filed the above-mentioned 51 identical appeals in respect of 51 RTI applications dated 05/09.08.2017 seeking similar information. All of these appeals are being clubbed together and disposed of by this common order.
Page 3 of 82. The appellant filed 50 applications under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Bank of India, Indore, seeking information on three points pertaining to 49 Branches and Zonal Office, Indore Zone, including, inter-alia, (i) certified copies of the bills paid for the period January 2012/2013 to July 2017, in connection with the renovation/repairs/extension (electrical, furnishing and air-conditioning) for all the 49 Branches and the Zonal Office, (ii) copies of the quotation/tenders received for the said works, and (iii) the amount of deduction as per Section 26(2) of Madhya Pradesh VAT Act 2002 and the date of deposit by the Bank for the said works.
File No. CIC/BKOIN/A/2017/606798
3. The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Bank of India, Indore, seeking information on three points pertaining to Zonal Office: Indore Zone, including, inter-alia, (i) certified copies of the bills in respect of construction and furnishing (Civil, electrical, furnishing & air-conditioning) of new corporate zonal office and the residential flats, i.e., Plot No. 9/RC, SCH. 134, Indore, (ii) copies of the quotation/tenders received for the said works, and (iii) the amount of deduction as per Section 26(2) of Madhya Pradesh VAT Act 2002 and the date of deposit by the Bank for the said works along with the income tax deducted at source under Section 194C.
4. The appellant filed 51 second appeals before the Commission on the grounds that the CPIO/FAA has wrongly denied the information sought for under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act. He contended that there has been violation of Bank rules/regulations in allotment of tenders to private bidders. The appellant requested Page 4 of 8 the Commission to direct the respondent to provide the desired information to him and to take necessary action against the respondent under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act.
Hearing:
5. The appellant Shri Vipin Jain and the respondent Shri Sapti Kr. Basa, DGM & CPIO and Shri Rajat Kr. Jain, Law Officer, Bank of India, Zonal Office: Indore Zone, Madhya Pradesh, attended the hearing through video-conferencing.
6. The appellant submitted that the CPIO has wrongly denied the information sought for on the grounds that providing information of all 49 branches of Zonal Office will not only divert the resources of the bank but also affect the normal functioning of the office. Further, the FAA while upholding the reply of the CPIO, reiterated vide order dated 04.10.2017 that collating and compiling of the information sought would disproportionately divert the resources of the bank. Hence, its disclosure is exempted under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act. The appellant also stated that earlier he had filed one RTI application before the CPIO, Zonal Office, Indore seeking information in respect of all the 49 branches of the Zonal Office. However, the CPIO rejected his RTI application stating that the information sought is voluminous in nature, collating and compiling of which would disproportionately divert the resources of the bank. Hence, the disclosure of information is exempted as per Section 7(9) of the RTI Act. Thus, he had to file 51 RTI applications seeking identical information, separately, for each individual branch as well as the Zonal Office in Indore Zone. The appellant contended that the information sought for is available, branch wise, in the bank and thus, can be Page 5 of 8 furnished without diverting the resources of the bank. The appellant requested the Commission to direct the respondent to provide the information sought for by him.
7. The respondent contended that the information sought for by the appellant regarding the bills paid for the period January 2012/2013 to July 2017, in connection with the renovation/repairs/extension (electrical, furnishing and air- conditioning) for all the 49 Branches and the Zonal Office, quotation/tenders received for the said works and the amount deducted under M.P. VAT Act is scattered over a large number of files which are partly maintained at the level of Zonal Office and partly at the level of the individual branch. Hence, collecting the desired information from 49 branches will disproportionately divert the resources of the respondent organization. Hence, its disclosure is exempt under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act. He however admitted that though the relevant files are maintained at Zonal Office, branch wise, every work is done branch-wise and bills are also prepared branch-wise.
Decision:
8. The Commission, after hearing the submissions of both the parties and perusing the records, notes that the appellant vide 51 RTI applications has sought information pertaining to renovation/repairs/extension/construction (electrical, furnishing and air-conditioning) for all the 49 Branches and the Zonal Office, Bank of India, Indore. The Commission observes that the information sought for, except quotations/tenders received from the unsuccessful contractors/bidders to whom the contract/work order was not awarded, is disclosable under the RTI Act. The Commission, further, observes that as per the respondent, the entire work relating to the renovation/repairs/extension/construction (electrical, furnishing and air-
Page 6 of 8conditioning) was done at the branch level. The Commission also notes that the appellant has sought information, branch wise, thus, the respondent does not have to collate and compile information from the branch. Hence, information could have been provided to the appellant. The Commission observes that the respondent should have sought the assistance of the officer concerned of each Branch, under Section 5(4) of the RTI Act, and furnish the information to the appellant. The Commission, therefore, directs the respondent to provide the information sought for, except quotations/tenders received from the unsuccessful contractors/bidders to whom the contract/work order was not awarded, if required, by seeking assistance of the officials concerned of each Branch under Section 5(4) of the RTI Act, to the appellant within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
9. With the above observations, all 51 appeals are disposed of.
10. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Sudhir Bhargava (सुधीर भाग व) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) दनांक / Date 26.11.2018 Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स यािपत ित) S. S. Rohilla (एस. एस. रोिह ला) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26105682 / [email protected] Page 7 of 8 Addresses of the parties:
1. The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Bank of India Zonal Office: Indore Zone, 9/RC, Scheme No. 134, Indore, Madhya Pradesh- 452003.
2. Shri Vipin Jain Page 8 of 8