Central Information Commission
Mr. Shiv Sankar Prasad vs Uco Bank on 11 September, 2008
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Appeal No.2801/ICPB/2008
F. No. PBC/2008/397
September 11, 2008
In the matter of Right to Information Act, 2005 - Section 18
[Hearing on 20.8.2008 at 11.45 a.m.]
Appellant: Mr. Shiv Sankar Prasad
Public authority: UCO Bank
Zonal Manager & CPIO
Parties Present: For Respondent:
Mr. C.M.L. Das, Chief Manager
Mr. Jyoti Singh, ACO (Law)
Appellant not present.
FACTS:
The appellant has sought information under RTI Act by his application dated 3.10.2007 addressed to PIO, UCO Bank, Bhelupura, Varanasi requesting information pertaining to rent payment in respect of Locker provided at the Branch. In the application the appellant has listed 10 to 11 queries and he is requesting information how rent amount has been calculated in respect of Locker towards non-payment. The PIO has not taken any action since the appellant has not paid any application fee. However, the PIO sent a letter informing the appellant since he has not paid any application fee, no information can be provided. While sending this reply he has not provided the particulars of first AA. This has resulted in filing of this complaint before the State Information Commission on 8.1.2008, which was transferred by the State Commission to the Central Commission on 25.01.2008. Comments were called for vide letter dated 10.6.2008 which was received from UCO Bank, Varanasi on 9.7.2008.
DECISION:
2. This case came up for hearing on 20.8.2008, which was attended by the Chief Manager, UCO Bank, Varanasi along with Welfare Officer from Zonal Office, Delhi. The appellant did not attend the hearing. I have gone through the RTI application and other replies received in this connection. I have also gone through the reply furnished by the CPIO on 28.07.2006 in response to the RTI application filed by the same appellant on 15.7.2006. The CPIO has explained during the hearing, the appellant has hired a locker in UCO Bank, Bhelupura branch, Varanasi and he has been using this locker from the year 1985 onwards and the appellant has also been paying rent regularly for quite some time. Since 1 there was default in payment of rent the Branch Manager has sent a notice to him with a request that he should make payment. In spite of the notice sent since he has not paid the locker rent the locker was got opened as per the Bank rules and it was intimated to the appellant that the locker was found empty. As far as the Bank is concerned, since the locker was existing in the name of the holder he is expected to make payment till the date it was got opened by the Bank. Therefore the Bank has entered into some correspondence and the applicant instead of making the payment has filed the application under RTI. In the comments, the Bank has clearly stated the facts explaining the case in detail.
Since the appellant has raised few issues in his application, I direct the CPIO to provide point-wise reply to the applicant within 15 days from the date of receipt of this direction by providing also the particulars of first AA so that in case if the appellant is not satisfied with this reply he can file appeal before the First AA. As far as recovery of rent is concerned it has to be taken up separately. In these lines, the appeal is disposed of.
Let a copy of this decision be sent to the appellant and CPIO.
Sd/-
(Padma Balasubramanian) Central Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy :
(Prem Singh Sagar) Under Secretary & Assistant Registrar Address of parties :
1. Zonal Manager & CPIO, UCO Bank, Zonal Office, B-27/92-5, Jawahar Nagar, Bhelupura, Varanasi-221010 (UP)
2. Mr. Shiv Sankar Prasad, D-7/9, Sakarkand Gali, Varanasi (UP) 2