Central Information Commission
Shri N.V.Radhakrishnan vs Andhra Bank on 9 October, 2009
Central Information Commission
Appeal No.CIC/SM/A/2008/00136 dated 20-03-2008
Right to Information Act-2005-Under Section (19)
Dated: 9 October 2009
Name of the Appellant : Shri N.V.Radhakrishnan General Manager, G/o India Press, Gandhi Nagar PO, Nasik, Maharashtra.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Andhra Bank, Zonal Office, 265, T.T.K. Salai, Chennai - 600 018.
The Appellant was present in person.
On behalf of the Respondent the following were present:-
(i) Shri Mohan, Senior Manager,
(ii) Shri V. Raghvan
2. In this case, the Appellant had, in his application dated March 20, 2008, requested the CPIO for the certified copies of (a) the agreement between the Bank and the owner of the Omega Crown Hyper-Market including the terms and conditions for installing the dish at the open terrace and (b) the permission obtained by the Bank from the competent authority for its installation. The CPIO replied on April 26, 2008 and denied information by citing Section 8(1) (d) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The Appellant challenged this before the first Appellate Authority on June 12, 2008. That authority endorsed the stand of the CPIO and did not give any relief to the Appellant. Thereafter, the Appellant has come before the CIC in second appeal.
3. The Appellant was present in the NIC studio at Nashik. The Respondents were present in the Hyderabad and Chennai studios of the NIC. We heard their arguments and submissions. We do not agree with the CPIO CIC/SM/A/2008/00136 that the desired information could be covered under any of the exemption provisions of the RTI Act. In fact, information such as about the hiring of premises has to be provided, within the scheme of this Act, in order to promote greater transparency in the functioning of the public authorities. We direct the CPIO to provide to the Appellant within 10 working days from the receipt of this order, certified copies of both these documents, if available. In case, any of these documents is not available for any reason, the CPIO shall clearly explain that in his reply.
4. With the above directions, the appeal is disposed off.
5. 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) Assistant Registrar CIC/SM/A/2008/00136