Central Information Commission
Harendra Kumar Singh vs North Eastern Railway (Gorakhpur) on 10 February, 2025
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/SERLK/A/2023/651264
CIC/NERLG/A/2023/651267
CIC/NERLG/A/2023/651268
CIC/NERLG/A/2023/651269
Harendra Kumar Singh .....अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
1. CPIO,
Sr. DMM, South-Eastern
Railway, Chakkardharpur, West
Sing Bhum, Jharkhand - 833102.
2. CPIO,
Assistant Divisional Railway Manager,
O/O Divisional Railway Manager,
North Eastern Railway, G.T. Road, Lahartara,
Varanasi - 221002.
3. CPIO,
Assistant Security Officer,
RPF, Office of the Sr. DSC,
North Eastern Railway,
G.T. Road, Lahartara, Varanasi - 221002. .... ितवादीगण /Respondents
Date of Hearing : 04.02.2025
Date of Decision : 07.02.2025
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Page 1 of 12
The above- mentioned Appeals have been clubbed together for disposal
through common-order as these are based on similar RTI applications of the
same appellant.
CIC/SERLK/A/2023/651264
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 27.07.2023
CPIO replied on : 02.08.2023
First appeal filed on : 07.08.2023
First Appellate Authority's order : 04.09.2023
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 08.11.2023
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 27.07.2023 (online) seeking the following information:
"Please confirm the following information and those information dated 25 July 2023, which has been requested under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act 2005, to confirm each and every answer with well certified documents. Point wise it is like this.
1. Please provide the list of AC 3 tire passengers of train number 15022. Information is desired.
2. Kindly make available the CCTV footage of AC passengers who alighted at Tatanagar railway station of train number 15022 from platform to parking zone.
I also wish to receive a CD of the scanned copy of the documents along with photocopies of the documents duly attested and however if any additional fee is required to be deposited, kindly inform in time regarding the amount and mode of payment.
You are also requested to keep me posted on the updated status of the steps taken by you in disposal of this application."
The CPIO furnished a point-wise reply to the Appellant on 02.08.2023 stating as under:
Page 2 of 12"1 The information relates to third party which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of individual and hence cannot be disclosed u/s (unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information 2 The matter pertains to Security department Hence the same has been transferred u/s 6(3) of RTI Act 2005 online though RTI MIS portal to concerned PIO Le PIO(Personnel)/CKP"
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 07.08.2023. The FAA vide its order dated 04.09.2023, held as under:
"The information sought does not pertain to a larger public interest. Hence, in accordance with the RTI Act 2005, the information related to 3rd party which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of individual and hence cannot be disclosed U/S 8(1)(j) unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information."
CIC/NERLG/A/2023/651267 Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 27.07.2023 CPIO replied on : 28.07.2023 First appeal filed on : 27.08.2023
First Appellate Authority's order : 20.09.2023 2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 08.11.2023 Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 27.07.2023 (online) seeking the following information:
"Please try to provide the following information and those information dated 24 July 2023.
1 Kindly provide the list of all reserved category passengers from Deoria station of train number 15022 going from Gorakhpur to Tatanagar. Information is desired.Page 3 of 12
2 Kindly provide the CCTV footage from parking zone to platform number 3 of train number 15022 reserved class passengers boarding from Deoria railway station from 01.00 pm till train departure in CD."
The CPIO furnished a point-wise reply to the Appellant on 28.07.2023 stating as under:
"1 इस कायालय से स बि धत नह ं है ।
2 मांगी गयी सूचना, सच ू ना का अ धकार अ ध नयम 2005 क धारा 8.1 (A) के अनस ु ार दे य नह ं है ।"
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 27.08.2023. The FAA vide its order dated 20.09.2023, upheld the reply of CPIO.
CIC/NERLG/A/2023/651268 Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 27.07.2023 CPIO replied on : 28.07.2023 First appeal filed on : 27.08.2023
First Appellate Authority's order : 20.09.2023 2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 08.11.2023 Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 27.07.2023 (online) seeking the following information:
"Please try to provide the following information and those information dated 24 July 2023, which has been requested under section 6 of the Right to Information Act 2005, to confirm all and each answer with well certified documents. Point wise it is like this.
1. Kindly provide the list of all reserved category passengers from Deoria station of train number 15022 going from Gorakhpur to Tatanagar. Information is desired.
2. Kindly provide the CCTV footage from parking zone to platform number 3 of train number 15022 reserved class passengers boarding from Deoria railway station from 1.00 pm till train departure in CD.Page 4 of 12
I also wish to receive a CD of the scanned copy of the documents along with photocopies of the documents duly attested and however if any additional fee is required to be deposited, kindly inform in time regarding the amount and mode of payment.
You are also requested to keep me posted on the updated status of the steps taken by you in disposal of this application."
The CPIO furnished a point-wise reply to the Appellant on 28.07.2023 stating as under:
"1 इस कायालय से स बि धत नह ं है ।
2 मांगी गयी सूचना, सच ू ना का अ धकार अ ध नयम 2005 क धारा 8.1(A) के अनस ु ार दे य नह ं है ।"
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 27.08.2023. The FAA vide its order dated 20.09.2023, upheld the reply of CPIO.
CIC/NERLG/A/2023/651269 Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 27.07.2023 CPIO replied on : 28.07.2023 First appeal filed on : 27.08.2023
First Appellate Authority's order : 20.09.2023 2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 08.11.2023 Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 27.07.2023 (online) seeking the following information:
"Kindly verify the following information and the information requested under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act 2005 related to train number 22532, Mathura Chhapra Express, dated 22 July 2023 at railway station Deoria, please confirm all and every answer with well certified documents. Point wise it is like this.Page 5 of 12
1. Kindly provide the list of AC 3 Tier passengers of Train No. 22532 traveling till date and railway station / completed journey till Deoria Railway Station. Information is desired.
2. Kindly make available the CCTV footage of AC passengers who alighted at Deoria railway station of train number 22532 from platform to parking zone. I also wish to receive a CD of the scanned copy of the documents along with photocopies of the documents duly attested and however if any additional fee is required to be deposited, kindly inform in time regarding the amount and mode of payment.
You are also requested to keep me posted on the updated status of the steps taken by you in disposal of this application."
The CPIO furnished a point-wise reply to the Appellant on 28.07.2023 stating as under:
"1 इस कायालय से स बि धत नह ं है ।
2 मांगी गयी सूचना, सच ू ना का अ धकार अ ध नयम 2005 क धारा 8.1(A) के अनस ु ार दे य नह ं है ।"
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 27.08.2023. The FAA vide its order dated 20.09.2023, upheld the reply of CPIO.
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeals.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through video-conference.
Respondent No. 1: Represented by Shri Debraj Banerjee, Divisional Commercial Manager present through video-conference.
Respondent No. 2: Represented by Shri P S Rawat, Assistant Commercial Manager present through video-conference.
Respondent No. 3: Represented by Shri N M Yadav, Assistant Security Commissioner present through video-conference.Page 6 of 12
In case File No. CIC/SERLK/A/2023/651264, a written submission dated 29.01.2025 has been filed by Shri Aditya Kumar Chaudhary, Sr. DPO-cum-PIO, Chakradhar, which is taken on record. Contents of the same are reproduced below:
The brief facts of the case are as follows:
1. Harendra Kumar Singh, had filed an RTI application on 27.07.2023, which was replied by this office on 02.08.23 (Copy enclosed).
2. The applicant filed an appeal on 27.08.23, which was disposed of by the FAA on 04.09.23 (Copy Enclosed).
The applicant has now submitted his second appeal on the denial of information regarding the list of AC-3 tire passengers of train number 15022 travelled on 25.07.23 to the Hon'ble Central Information Commission (CIC). The applicant is seeking information on the list of AC-3 tire passengers of the aforesaid train which relates to third party information. Since, the information sought contains information of passengers as Name, Age, Gender, from-to station etc., and the disclosure of the sought information is exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information.
In case File No. CIC/NERLG/A/2023/651267, a written submission dated 03.02.2025 has been filed by Shri P S Rawat, APO-cum-APIO, Varanasi, which is taken on record. Contents of the same are reproduced below:
"...स द!भत के मा$यम से %ी हरे & कुमार !सह 'वारा मल ू आरट आई आवेदन ,दनांक 28.07.2023 एवं अ य के मा$यम से मांगी गयी सच ू ना इस कायालय के प/ ,दनांक 18.08.2023 के मा$यम से तथा अपील य आवेदन ,दनांक 27.08.2023 क सूचना इस कायालय के प/ ,दनांक 18.09.2023 के मा$यम से तथा उसके स ब ध म2 अि तम उ3र (Final Reply) अपील य अ धकार के प/ ,दनांक 20.09.2023 के मा$यम से आपको 6े7षत 9कया गया है जो साथ म2 संल;न है िजसके मा$यम से अवगत कराया गया था 9क वां छत सच ू ना म2 मा/ मद सं=या 01 क सच ू ना ह पव ू >3र रे लवे, वाराणसी म@डल के वाBणCय 7वभाग से स बि धत है । मद सं=या 02 क सूचना वाBणCय 7वभाग से नह अ7पतु सरु Dा 7वभाग से स बि धत है एवं उसका उ3र सरु Dा 7वभाग 'वारा आपको 6दान 9कया गया है ।Page 7 of 12
आप 'वारा मांगी गयी सच ू ना के स ब ध म2 पव ू >3र रे लवे, वाराणसी म@डल के वाBणCय 7वभाग से स बि धत सच ू ना का 7ववरण पुनः ,दया जा रहा है जो न नवत है ः-
1. वा छत सूचना म2 गाड़ी सं=या 22532 के दे वHरया तक के ,दनांक 22.07.2023 से अभी तक (अगIत/23 तक) उLत गाड़ी के एसी-3 म2 या/ा स प न 9कये याM/यN के स ब ध म2 सच ू ना मांगी गयी है िजसके स ब ध म2 प/ ,दनांक 18. 08.23 के मा$यम से अवगत कराया गया है 9क उLत गाड़ी मथरु ा से छपरा के म$य संचा!लत है एवं वां छत सच ू ना गाड़ी के व9कOग चाट चाट से Pात होगा जो छपरा म2 उपलQध है । सच ू ना म2 आप 'वारा अपना पीएनआर Rडटे ल एवं उसके साथ आईडी 6फ ू नह ,दया गया था िजसके स बध म2 सूचना द गयी थी 9क अपने पीएनआर के पूण 7ववरण के साथ सच ू ना क मांग कर सकते है तथा व9कOग चाट क 6 त अपने पीएनआर के पूण 7ववरण के साथ एवं तदनस ु ार आपके ,दये गये पीएनआर से स बि धत पेज पर अं9कत सभी पीएनआर हे तु 6 त पीएनआर वाBणCय सकुलर सं. 65/2011 के अनस ु ार नधाHरत शV ु क 750 /-
Wपये क दर से कुल रा!श क गणना कर आपको अवगत कराने पर उLत रा!श को पोIटल आडर/डीडी जो * वHरYठ म@डल 7व3 6ब धक, पव ू >3र रे लवे, वाराणसी के पD म2 दे य अथवा मनी रसीद के मा$यम से लेखा शीष -93652000 म2 जमा करने पर 6 त आपको उपलQध करायी जा सके ।
पव
ू म2 6दान क गयी सच
ू ना के स ब ध म2 आवेदक 'वारा Mबना अपने
पीएनआर के 7ववरण एवं आईडी 6फ
ू तथा Mबना शV
ु क जमा 9कये ह सूचना
उपलQध कराये जाने हे तु अपील य आवेदन के मा$यम से अनरु ोध 9कया गया है जब9क पव ू म2 द गयी सच ू ना पूण एवं सह है ।
आवेदक 'वारा Iवयं क सूचना क मांग के स ब ध म2 यथो चत 7ववरण तथा सा\य के साथ मांग ह नह 9कया गया िजससे त]समय नधाHरत शV ु क जमा 9कये जाने हे तु गणना कर शV ु क से भी अवगत नह कराया गया तथा स बि धत पेज िजस पर अ य कई याM/यN क वयिLतगत सच ू ना अं9कत होने के कारण सूचना अ धकार अ ध नयम क धारा 8-1 (जी) एवं (जे) तथा धारा 11 के अ तगत नह उपलQध कराया गया है ।
2. सच ू ना म@डल के वाBणCय 7वभाग से स बि धत नह ं है अ7पतु सरु Dा 7वभाग से स बि धत है एवं उनके 'वारा सच ू ना द गयी है "Page 8 of 12
In case File No. CIC/NERLG/A/2023/651268, a written submission dated 03.02.2025 has been filed by Shri P S Rawat, APO-cum-APIO, Varanasi, which is taken on record. Contents of the same are reproduced below:
"...स द!भत के मा$यम से %ी हरे & कुमार !सह 'वारा मल ू आरट आई आवेदन ,दनांक 27.07.2023 एवं अ य के मा$यम से मांगी गयी सच ू ना इस कायालय के प/ ,दनांक 11.08.2023 के मा$यम से तथा अपील य आवेदन ,दनांक 27.08.2023 क सच ू ना इस कायालय के प/ ,दनांक 18.09.2023 के मा$यम से तथा उसके स ब ध म2 अि तम उ3र (Final Reply) अपील य अ धकार के प/ ,दनांक 20.09.2023 के मा$यम से आपको 6े7षत 9कया गया है िजसके मा$यम से अवगत कराया गया था 9क वां छत सच ू ना म2 मा/ मद सं=या 01 क सूचना ह वाBणCय 7वभाग से स बि धत है पर तु पव ू >3र रे लवे, वाराणसी म@डल के वाBणCय 7वभाग से स बि धत नह है अ7पतु द^Dण पव ू रे लवे के खड़गपरु म@डल से स बि धत होने के कारण उनको आनलाईन Iथाना तHरत 9कया गया था। मद सं=या 02 क सच ू ना वाBणCय 7वभाग से नह अ7पतु सरु Dा 7वभाग से स बि धत है एवं उसका उ3र सरु Dा 7वभाग 'वारा आपको 6दान 9कया गया है ।
आप 'वारा मॉगी गयी सच ू ना के स ब ध म2 पव ू >3र रे लवे, वाराणसी म@डल के वाBणCय 7वभाग से स बि धत सच ू ना का 7ववरण पुनः ,दया जा रहा है जो न नवत है :-
1. वा छत सूचना के स ब ध म2 पव ू म2 ह अवगत कराया गया है 9क उLत गाड़ी का दे वHरया का बोRडOग चाट दे वHरया Iटे शन पच उपलQध नह ं है । उLत गाड़ी गोरखपरु से शाल मार के म$य संचा!लत है एवं वां छत सच ू ना गाड़ी के बोRडंग चाट से Pात होगा जो शाल मार म2 !मलेगा अथात वां छत सच ू ना पव ू >3र रे लवे के वाराणसी म@डल से स बि धत नह ं है अ7पतु द^Dणा पव ू रे लवे के खड़गपरु म@डल से स बि धत है । सच ू ना हे तु आपके आवेदन को द^Dण पव ू रे लवे के खड़गपरु म@डल को आनलाईन Iथाना तHरत 9कया गया था िजसके स ब ध म2 अपील य आवेदन के मा$यम से मांगी गयी सच ू ना के स ब ध म2 भी अवगत कराया गया था 9क सूचना हे तु द^Dण पव ू रे लवे के खड़गपरु म@डल से स पक 9कया जा सकता है । पूव म2 6दान क गयी सूचना पूण एवं सह है ।
2. सच ू ना म@डल के वाBणCय 7वभाग से स बि धत नह है अ7पतु सरु Dा 7वभाग से स बि धत है एवं उनके 'वारा सच ू ना द गयी है ..."Page 9 of 12
The Appellant stated that his estranged wife absconded from his home with a lot of valuable items without his consent, therefore, to corroborate evidence in support of his complaint he sought the information. He expressed his dissatisfaction to the fact that complete information has not been provided to him by any of the respondents till date. In the absence of the information as sought in these cases, even the police are not lodging FIR in the case. He prayed the Commission to intervene in the matter.
The Respondents by inviting attention of the Commission towards the contents of their respective written submissions apprised the bench that requested information has already been provided to the appellant. The contentions of the appellant regarding non-receipt of information are not acceptable.
Decision:
The Commission, after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case and perusal of the records, notes that the main premise of the instant Appeals were denial of information by the Respondent at the initial stage. In response to which, the Respondent replied that the information sought by the Appellant pertains to personal information of third party, therefore, information being exempted from disclosure has been denied to the Appellant under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act in the first instance, however, later on, the relevant information including CCTV footage has been shown to the appellant which was never challenged by him.
The Commission is of considered view that the respondent has appropriately denied the information to the appellant in the first instance as it contains personal information of third party which cannot be disclosed under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. The same can be garnered from a bare perusal of the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act as under:
"8. Exemption from disclosure of information.--
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, xxx Page 10 of 12
(j) information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information;.."
In this regard, attention of the Appellant is drawn towards a judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter of Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India Vs. Subhash Chandra Agarwal in Civil Appeal No. 10044 of 2010 with Civil Appeal No. 10045 of 2010 and Civil Appeal No. 2683 of 2010 wherein the import of "personal information" envisaged under Section 8(1)(j) of RTI Act has been exemplified in the context of earlier ratios laid down by the same Court in the matter(s) of Canara Bank Vs. C.S. Shyam in Civil Appeal No.22 of 2009; Girish Ramchandra Deshpande vs. Central Information Commissioner & Ors., (2013) 1 SCC 212 and R.K. Jain vs. Union of India & Anr., (2013) 14 SCC 794. The following was thus held:
"59. Reading of the aforesaid judicial precedents, in our opinion, would indicate that personal records, including name, address, physical, mental and psychological status, marks obtained, grades and answer sheets, are all treated as personal information. Similarly, professional records, including qualification, performance, evaluation reports, ACRs, disciplinary proceedings, etc. are all personal information. Medical records, treatment, choice of medicine, list of hospitals and doctors visited, findings recorded, including that of the family members, information relating to assets, liabilities, income tax returns, details of investments, lending and borrowing, etc. are personal information. Such personal information is entitled to protection from unwarranted invasion of privacy and conditional access is available when stipulation of larger public interest is satisfied. This list is indicative and not exhaustive..."
Emphasis Supplied.
Neither in the RTI applications nor in the instant appeals have the Appellant brought out any overriding public interest that will be served with the disclosure of the personal information of a third-party.
Page 11 of 12Hence, no cause of action subsists in the matters under the RTI Act for further adjudication, as such.
However, the Commission adversely viewed the conduct of the Respondents which is evident from the fact that by ignoring the above said aspect, the Respondents have casually disclosed the personal information of third parties to the appellant without seeking consent/objection of the concerned passengers under Section 11 of RTI Act. In this regard, the Respondents are cautioned to exercise due diligence while dealing with the RTI matters in future.
No intervention of the Commission is warranted in these Second Appeals.
With these observations, the instant appeals are disposed of.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari (िवनोद कुमार ितवारी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स!ािपत ित) (S. Anantharaman) Dy. Registrar 011- 26181927 Date Copy To:
The FAA, Senior Division Commercial Manager, South-Eastern Railway, Chakkardharpur, West Sing Bhum, Jharkhand - 833102 Copy To:
The FAA, Office of the Divisional Railway Manager, North Eastern Railway, G.T. Road, Lahartara, Varanasi - 221002 Page 12 of 12 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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