Central Information Commission
Gajanan M Dandale vs South East Central Railway on 27 February, 2024
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मनु नरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई दिल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No : CIC/SECRL/A/2023/102308
Gajanan M Dandale ....अपीलकर्ाग/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
PIO,
Asst. Security Commissioner O/o
IG Cum Pr. Chief Security
Commissioner, Railway
Protection Force, SEC
Railway, Bilaspur- 495004 ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 20-02-2024
Date of Decision : 26-02-2024
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 06-05-2022
CPIO replied on : 31-05-2022
First appeal filed on : 02-09-2022
First Appellate Authority's order : 06-10-2022
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 09-01-2023
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 06.05.2022 seeking the following information:1
1) रे ल्वे सुरक्षा बल/सुरक्षा ववभाग मे कायगरर् ममनीट्रीयल कमगचारीयो का स्थानांर्रण प्रशासनीक दिर् मे रे ल्वे के ककन ककन ननयमो के अधिन एक मंडल से िस ु रे मंडल मे ककया जार्ा िै , के बाबर् ननयमो के प्रर्ीयो के साथ जानकारी प्रिान करने का कष्ट करे ।
2) सरु क्षा ववभाग मे कायगरर् ममनीस्ट्रीयल कमगचारीयो का स्वैच्छीक स्थानांर्रण एक मंडल से िस ु रे मंडल मे ककन ककन रे ल्वे ननयमो के र्िर् ककया जार्ा िै , के बाबर् की जानकारी ननयमो की प्रर्ीयों के साथ जानकारी प्रिान करने का कष्ट करे ।
3) जी.एम.िान्द्डले, कायागलय अधिक्षक, वररमंडल सुरक्षा आयुक्र्/कायागलय नागपरू का स्थानांर्रण नागपरू से रायपरू मे रे ल्वे के जजस ननयम के र्िर् ककया गया िै , उक्र् के बाबर् ननयमो की प्रर्ीयााँ प्रिान करने का कष्ट करे ।
4) सुरक्षा ववभाग ि.प.ु म. रे ल्वे मे मुख्यालय बबलासपूर, रायपरू मंडल, नागपूर मंडल एव बबलासपूर मंडल में कायगरर् ममनीस्ट्रीयल कमगचारीयो का वववरण जजसमे कमगचारी का नाम, कब से कब र्क ककस मंडल मे/मख् ु यालय मे कायगरर् िै र्था उक्र् मंडल मे/मुख्यालय मे लगार्ार ककर्नी अविी से एक दि जगि कायगरर् िै , के बाबर् कक जानकारी प्रिान करे ।
5) ककसी ममनीस्ट्रीयल कमगचारी का प्रशासननक दिर् मे एक मंडल से िस ु रे मंडल मे (उसी रे ल मे) स्थानांर्रण िोने के पश्यार्, उक्र् कमगचारी का स्वैच्छीक स्थानांर्रण ककर्ने अविी पश्चार् ननयमानुसार ककया जा सकर्ा िै के बाबर् ननयम कक प्रर्ीयो के साथ जानकारी प्रिान करे ।
6) प्रिान मख् ु य सरु क्षा आयक् ु र्/रे .स.ु ब कायागलय को जी.एम. िान्द्डले, कायागलय अधिक्षक के द्वारा प्रेषीर् अनेक पत्र, जो स्थानांर्रण रिि करने, डी.जी मिोिय के समक्ष पुट िोणे, वेर्न की मॉग करणे, बबमार िोणे की सुचना िे णे, प्र.मु.सु.आयुक्र्/रे सुब के समक्ष पुट अप िोणे, वरर. मंडल सुरक्षा आयुक्र्/कायागलय नागपरू के सभी ममनीस्ट्रीयल कमगचारीयो के सामुिीक िस्र्ाक्षर का पत्र, इत्यािी ववषय के बाबर् कब कब प्रिान मुख्य 2 सुरक्षा आयुक्र्/कायागलय बबलासपूर को प्राप्र् िुए िै , के बाबर् संपूणग जानकारी प्रिान करे र्था प्राप्र् िुए सभी पत्रो पुर कब क्या क्या कायगवािी की गई िै एव प्रत्येक अलग अलग मि/ववषय जैसे बच्चो कक मशक्षा रखयम की बबमारी स्थानांर्रण रिि करने वेर्न जारी करणे, वरर मंडल सरु क्षा आयक् ु र्/नागपरू द्वारा मझ ु े नागपरू मे सरु क्षा सम्मेलन मे आपके समक्ष न आने िे णे एव गोपनीय ररपोटग जो मेरे बाबर् आपको Sr. DSC/NGP ने प्रेषीर् की िुई िै कक जााँच कराने, के बाबर्, यिी इन सभी ववषयो पर कोई आिे श/ननष्कषग या पत्र जारी िुए िो र्ो प्रत्येक मि/ववषय के अनुरूप मलए गए नननगय की ववस्र्ुर् जानकारी प्रिान करने का कष्ट करे ।
7) वरर मंडल सरु क्षा आयक् ु र्/रे .स.ु ब नागपरू ने आपके नाम जी.एम.डान्द्डले कायागलय अधिक्षक की प्रेषीर् की गई गोपनीय ररपोटग की जााँच कराई गई िो र्ो, उक्र् की जॉच ररपोटग प्रिान करने का कष्ट करे ।
8) वरर. मं.स.ु आ/रे सब ु नागपरू ने जो गोपनीय ररपोटग जी.एम.डान्द्डले के बाबर् मख् ु यालय को प्रेषीर् की गई िै , इस ररपोटग की जानकारी प्रिान करने का कष्ट करे ।
9) वरर. मं.स.ु आ/रे सुब नागपूर के द्वारा मख् ु यालय बबलासपूर को प्रेषीर् कक गई जी.एम.डान्द्डले के गोपनीय ररपोटग को आिार मानकर अथवा सच मानकर जी.एम.डान्द्डले के बाबर् मख् ु यालय बबलासपरू ने यिी कोई आिे श जारी ककया गया िो र्ो उक्र् बाबर् की जानकरी प्रिान करे ।
10) ि.पु.म.रे ल्वे / नागपूर मंडल के सुरक्षा ववभाग (रे .सु.ब) वरर. मंडल सुरक्षा आयुक्र् कायागलय मे वर्गमान मे ककर्ने कायागलय अधिक्षक के पि ररक्र् िै के बाबर् की जानकारी प्रिान करे ।
The CPIO furnished a point-wise reply to the Appellant on 31.05.2022 stating as under:
3"Point No 1 to 5:
Copy of RPF Establishment Manual 2019 (PART-B: TRANSFER OF MINISTERIAL STAFF) is enclosed.
Point No 6:
Reply has already been Communicated to him to resume his duty, but he failed to so and remained unauthorized absent.
Point No.7 to 9:
Confidential documents cannot be given. (RTI Act Rule 2.J) Point No 10:
There are 02 vacancies of OS in NGP Division."
The CPIO furnished a point-wise reply to the Appellant on 08.06.2022 stating as under:
Point No 1 to 3: सुरक्षा ववभाग, मुख्यालय से संबंधिर् िै ।
Point No 4: सरु क्षा ववभाग के सभी ममननजस्ट्रयल कमगचाररयों का स्थानांर्रण/पोजस्टं ग का कायग मुख्यालय बबलासपुर के द्वारा की जार्ी िै , जजसका पूणग वववरण मुख्यालय बबलासपुर में िी उपलब्ि िै । अर्ः चािी गयी जानकारी मुख्यालय बबलासपुर से प्राप्र् की जा सकर्ी िै ।
Point No 5 to 7: सरु क्षा ववभाग, मख् ु यालय से संबंधिर् िै ।
Point No 8: यि नीनर्गर् मामला िै ।
Point No 9: सुरक्षा ववभाग, मुख्यालय से संबंधिर् िै ।
Point No 10: बर्गमान में सरु क्षा ववभाग, नागपरु मंडल में कुल-02 कायागलय अिीक्षक के पि ररक्र् िै ।4
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 02.09.2022. The FAA vide its order dated 06.10.2022, held as under:
4) अपीलकर्ाग द्वारा प्रथम अपील दिनांक 02.09.2022 को ककया गया िै जो ननयमानुसार RTI 2005 की िारा 19(1) के प्राविानों के र्िर् 30 दिनों के बाि की िै एवं रे लवे िाजस्पटल नागपरु से उपचार संबजन्द्िर् मेडडकल प्रमाण पत्र जो कक अगस्र् 2022 में जारी ककया िुआ पाया गया जो अववचारणीय िै।
5) आरटीआई आवेिन में मांगी गई जानकारी वि ृ र् लोक दिर् से संबजन्द्िर् िोना चादिए परं र्ु ऐसा निीं िै । अिोिस्र्ाक्षरी इस बार् पर सिमर् िै कक वांनछर् जानकारी लोक दिर् से संबजन्द्िर् निीं िै ।
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through Video Conferencing Respondent: Mr. Bhawani Shankar Nath DIG RPF CPIO, Present through Video Conferencing The Appellant while reiterating the contents of the RTI Application submitted that incomplete information has been furnished by the Respondent on point No. 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the RTI Application.
The Respondent inter alia submitted that a point-wise reply has already been furnished to the Appellant.
Respondent uploaded the copy of written submissions, wherein he inter alia stated as under:5
"...1. Shri G.M. Dandale Office Superintendent/DSC/RPF/Nagpur was appointed in Railway Protection Special Force as a Constable on 19.08.1996. In June 2002, he was transferred from Railway Protection Special Force to Nagpur division as a Constable. In the year 2006, after medical de- categorization, he was absorbed in the post of Junior Clerk from Constable in the Ministerial Cadre of Security Department in the year 2007 and was working as a Junior Clerk/Senior Clerk and Office Superintendent, Sr. Divisional Security Commissioner/RPF/Nagpur till December 2021.
2. On 14.12.2021, a Confidential report was sent by Sr.DSC/RPF/Nagpur to the Inspector General- cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner/RPF/Bilaspur, in which he showed that the working style and conduct of the said Office Superintendent was not satisfactory and recommended for immediate transfer of the above said staff from Nagpur Division.
3. The then IG-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner/RPF/Bilaspur transferred Shri G.M. Dandale Office Superintendent/DSC/RPF/Office/Nagpur on the basis of the above confidential report of Senior Divisional Security Commissioner/Nagpur, under the provisions of Point No. 1 of RPF Establishment Manual 2019 (Part B, Transfer of Ministerial Staff) and Indian Railway Establishment Code Rule No.277, to DSC/RPF/Office/Raipur on administrative ground under the Office Order Number 56/2021 dated 22.12.2021.
4. In compliance with the said transfer order, the said Office Superintendent of Nagpur Division was spared to report in Raipur Division on 23.12.2021, but the said Office Superintendent did not join at his new place of posting at DSC/RPF/Raipur Office even after more than one year, till 13.02.2023.
5. The said Office Superintendent was advised by the higher authority to join at his new place of posting and Nagpur Division's letter number F/15-79/289 dated 21.01.2022 was also served upon him but the said Office Superintendent did not comply with the transfer order. He did not appear at his work place even after more than a year, A Major Penalty 6 Charge Sheet (SF-5) was issued against him on 10.08.2022 and having been found guilty after due enquiry he was imposed a penalty of withholding of his next increment for 2 years, with cumulative effect vide Divisional Order No. 26/2023 dated 20.03.2023, by Sr.DSC/RPF/Nagpur. The period of absence from 24.12.2023 to 13.02.2023 was regularized as LWP (Leave Without Pay).
6. The said Office Superintendent filed a petition in CAT, Mumbai Bench Camp at Nagpur against his transfer order. Since this transfer was not done by the Placement Committee, it was cancelled by CAT on technical grounds, stating that the said transfer may be done on the basis of the recommendations of the Placement Committee. The operative para of the order of the CAT is replicated below:-
"Therefore, the O.A. is partly allowed. The order issued by Respondent No.2 dated 22.12.2021 and the letter dated 23.12.2021 issued by the Asstt. Security Commissioner for Sr.DSC RPF, S.E.C.Railway, Nagpur are set aside. The Respondents No.1 to 3 are directed to comply with the instructions of the Railway Board in Circular dated 10.06.2014 with Corrigendum issued on 21.05.2018, by constituting Placement Committee for considering the cases of transfers, and place the case of the applicant before such Placement Committee and after obtaining its opinion/recommendations, issue further necessary orders about transfer of the applicant, if required. It is made clear that I have not expressed any opinion on other issues/contentions raised by the counsels of the parties and grounds/issues are to be considered by the concerned Competent Authority. For absence of the applicant after his relief from Nagpur office on 23.12.2021, the Competent Authority concerned may take appropriate action as per the stipulations under the relevant applicable rules and binding instructions on the subject."
In compliance with the above order, the Office Superintendent has again been posted at Nagpur Division vide office Letter No. E/15- 79/Ministerial/843 Dated 14.02.2023.
The matter of transfer of Office Superintendent is still under consideration by the Placement Committee.
7Adequate answers to all the questions raised in the RTI application has already been provided..."
Decision:
The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both the parties and perusal of the records, finds no infirmity in the reply of the Respondent as the same was found to be in consonance with the provisions of RTI Act. Hence, intervention of the Commission is not warranted in this matter.
The perusal of the records further reveals that the appellant has grievance with regards to his transfer order. It may not be out of place to mention that the Commission is not a grievance redressal forum. Therefore, the appellant is advised to approach the appropriate forum for redressal of his grievances. The Commission finds no merit in the appeal and the same is liable to be dismissed.
The appeal is dismissed accordingly.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari (विनोद कुमार तििारी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्ि) Date 26-02-2024 Authenticated true copy (अमभप्रमाणणर् सत्यावपर् प्रनर्) (R K Rao) Dy. Registrar 011- 26181827 Date 8