Central Information Commission
Shri.Hari Mohan Bajaj vs Punjab And Sind Bank on 11 October, 2010
Central Information Commission
File No.CIC/SM/A/2010/000346
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Dated: 11 October 2010
Name of the Appellant : Shri Hari Mohan Bajaj House No. 1032.
Sector - 43/B, Chandigarh.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Punjab & Sind Bank, H.O. Risk Management Department, 7th Floor, 21, Bank House, Rajendra Place, New Delhi - 110 125.
The Appellant was present along with Shri M.S. Jandyal. On behalf of the Respondent, Shri Lekh Raj Chugh, Senior Manager was present.
2. We heard this case through videoconferencing. The Appellant was present in the Chandigarh studio of the NIC along with his advocate. The Respondent was present in our chamber. We heard their submissions.
3. The Appellant had wanted to know a number of details in respect of the action taken on his complaint. The CPIO had denied the information by claiming exemption under Section 8(1) (h) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act without giving much detail of how the disclosure of this information would affect adversely the outcome of the investigation or prosecution. The Appellate Authority had endorsed the decision of the CPIO, again without giving much CIC/SM/A/2010/000346 justification. During the hearing, we heard the submissions for both the parties and carefully considered the contents of the RTI application. Some of the queries of the Appellant are in the nature of seeking opinion and, to that extent, do not require any response from the CPIO. However, in almost all his queries, there are also such elements for which the bank can provide the available information. Since the information sought is largely factual in nature, we cannot see how the disclosure of such information would have any impact on the investigation pending in the matter.
4. Therefore, we direct the CPIO to provide to the Appellant within 15 working days from the receipt of this order the desired information, wherever available, against each of his queries along with photocopies of supporting documents, if any. Preferably, the information must be provided in a tabular format. If the information is not available against any of the queries, the CPIO shall clearly say so against that particular query.
5. With the above direction, the appeal is disposed off.
6. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied against application and payment of the charges prescribed under the Act to the CPIO of this Commission.
(Vijay Bhalla) CIC/SM/A/2010/000346 Assistant Registrar CIC/SM/A/2010/000346