Shamim Ara Safia Zaman vs Punjab National Bank on 25 April, 2022

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Central Information Commission

Shamim Ara Safia Zaman vs Punjab National Bank on 25 April, 2022

1. The issues under consideration arising out of the second appeal dated 30.12.2019 include non-receipt of the following information sought by the appellant through the RTI application dated 05.08.2019 and first appeal dated 29.10.2019:-

(i) "The status of his letter addressing to Senior Manger, staff pension, department, Head office, 11 Hemanta basu Sarani, Kolkata dated 28.12.2009 through the Chief Manager Sibsagar regional office, Jorhat received on 23.12.2009.

(ii) The status of letter no staff pension/s 208/spf-28996/3/2010 date 30.03.2010 addressing to Sr. Manager (Admin), United Bank of India, Sibsagar Region, Dohabora Riad, Jorhat, where copy of the said letter sent to him by Sr. Manager (Staff Pension).

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(iii) Let him know why the death benefit has not been released to him by Bank authority after the death of late Shah Jamal Ali Ex CCG, of Sibsagar Region, Jorhat, SPF no.

28996 who expired on 17th September 2008 after passing a long almost 11(eleven) years.

(iv) Please inform him the rule of Bank for settlement of death claim benefit like Pension, Gratuity, SPF etc and time frame for these settlements".

2. Succinctly facts of the case are that the appellant filed an application dated 05.08.2019 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Punjab National Bank (Erstwhile United Bank of India), Kolkata, seeking aforesaid information. The CPIO replied on 09.12.2019. Aggrieved with the same, the appellant filed first appeal dated 29.10.2019. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) did not pass any order. Aggrieved by that, the appellant filed a second appeal dated 30.12.2019 before the Commission which is under consideration.

3. The appellant has filed the instant appeal dated 30.12.2019 inter alia on the grounds that reply given by the CPIO was not satisfactory. The appellant requested the Commission to direct the CPIO to provide the complete information and take necessary action as per Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act.

4. The CPIO replied on 09.12.2019 and the same is reproduced as under:

"(i) (a) Your letter dated 23.12.2009 was received by the Pension Department Head Office and it was processed by way of sending the family pension application form to Chief Regional Manager, Sbisagar Region vide letter dated 02.01.2010.

(b) The letter dated 30.03.2010 was issued by the staff Pension Dept. to Sr. Admin, UBI Sibsagar Region requesting him to send the family pension documents of Smt. Shamim Ara Sfia Zaman in order to release the family pension. In response, the family pension application was received by the Pension Department Head Office from Sibsagar Region vide their letter dated 31.12.2010.

(c) The query raised is in the form of seeking reasons which do not qualify as information.

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(d) The rule of our bank for settlement of death claim in respect of pension, gratuity and SPF are contained in bank's internal rules and circular, the details of which are as follows:

 Pension (Employees) Pension Regulations 1995  Gratuity Bank's internal circular dated 09.08.2011  SPF: United Bank of India Staff Provident Fund Rules amended upto 27.12.2002 in accordance with the amendments made by the Central Govt. in the Indian Income Tax (Recognised Provident Fund Rules

(ii) & (iii) The query raised is in the form of general query seeking clarification which do not qualify as information."

5. The appellant remained absent and on behalf of the respondent Shri S Jaggan, Assistant General Manager, Punjab National Bank, Kolkata, attended the hearing through video conference.

5.1. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that they had provided point-wise reply/information to the appellant and requested the Commission to dismiss the appeal.

6. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the respondent and perusal of records, observed that due reply was given by the CPIO on 09.12.2019. Further, in the absence of the appellant or any written objections thereof, the averments made by the respondent were taken on record. There appears to be no public interest in prolonging the matter further. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.

Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.

Sd/-

(Suresh Chandra) (सुरेश चं ा) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) दनांक/Date: 22.04.2022 Authenticated true copy R. Sitarama Murthy (आर. सीताराम मूत ) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26181927(०११-२६१८१९२७) Page 3 of 4 Addresses of the parties:

CPIO :

1. THE CPIO Punjab National Bank ( Erstwhile United Bank Of India) O/O The Chief Manager Head office 11, Hamanta Basu Sarani, Kolkata 700001 The First Appellate Authority General Manager Punjab National Bank ( Erstwhile United Bank Of India) 11,Hamanta Basu Sarani Kolkata 700001 Shamim Ara Safia Zaman Page 4 of 4

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