Central Information Commission
Avishek Kumar vs East Central Railway (Hajipur) on 18 November, 2024
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/ECRHJ/A/2023/135339
Avishek Kumar .....अपीलकर्ाग /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO,
O/O Divisional Railway Manager,
East Central Railway,
Kasturba Nagar, Dhanbad - 826001 ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 13.11.2024
Date of Decision : 14.11.2024
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 30.05.2023
CPIO replied on : 12.06.2023
First appeal filed on : 16.06.2023
First Appellate Authority's order : 14.07.2023
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 16.08.2023
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an (online) RTI application dated 30.05.2023 seeking the following information:
"Kindly provide me with the following information under the Right to Information Act, 2005:Page 1 of 7
1. Complete information of the steps, proceedings and actions taken with reference to my letter, ref. no. JSS/22-23/14 (copy attached herewith) dated 21.02.2023, which was addressed and delivered to the Honorable Minister of Railways vide Speed Past Consignment number EJ359155938IN.
2. Complete information of the steps, proceedings and actions taken with reference to my letter, ref, no. JSS/22-23/15 (copy attached herewith) dated 06.03.2023, which was addressed and delivered to the Honorable Minister of Railways vide Speed Post Consignment number EJ258182727ΙΝ.
3. Complete information of the steps, proceedings and actions taken with reference to my letter, ref. no. JSS/22-23/16 (copy attached herewith) dated 15.03.2023, which was addressed and delivered to the Honorable Minister of Railways vide Speed Post Consignment number EJ323405727IN.
4. Complete information of the steps, proceedings and actions taken with reference to my letter, ref, no. JSS/22-23/17 (copy attached herewith) dated 23.03.2023, which was addressed and delivered to the Honorable Minister of Railways vide Speed Post Consignment number EJ258183807ΙΝ.
5. Complete information of the steps, proceedings and actions taken with reference to my letter, ref. no. JSS/23-24/01 (copy attached herewith) dated 02.04.2023, which was addressed and delivered to the Honorable Minister of Railways vide Speed Post Consignment number EJ273230606IN.
6. Complete information of the steps, proceedings and actions taken with reference to my letter, ref. no. JSS/23-24/02 (copy attached herewith) dated 08.04.2023, which was addressed and delivered to the Minister of Railways vide Speed Post Consignment number EJ254159524IN.
Please be advised that the application, if required, should be transferred to the holder of the information at the earliest, but in no case later than 5 days from the date of receipt of this application, as per the Section 6(3)(ii) of the Act. Furthermore, if a decision is taken to provide the above requested information on payment of further fees then the provisions under the Sections 7(3)(a) and 7(5) of the Act should strictly be adhered to. The entire information, sought above, is extremely clear and in case Page 2 of 7 of any doubt regarding its clarity, you are requested to precisely point out the exact points of ambiguity instead of dismissing the request summarily.
Furthermore, none of the information sought above is prohibited by the sections 8(1), 9 or 11 of the Act. You are also requested to kindly provide me with the entire information, requested above, in printed form, at the earliest, but, in any case, within the stipulated period of 30 days as per the Section 7(1) of the Act. In the event of the aforementioned time limit being violated, the applicant is to be provided the entire information requested above, free of cost as per the Section 7(6) of the act."
The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 12.06.2023 stating as under:
"सूचना अधिकार अधिननयम, 2005 के अन्तर्गत आपका आवेदन ददनाांक 28.05.2023 सांदर्भगत पांजीकरण के माध्यम से इस कायागलय में प्राप्त हुआ है । इस सबांि में पत्र सां० ई०/ननपटारा /RTI/5/2023 ददनाांक 01.06.2023 के तहत सूचना उपलब्ि करायी र्यी है , जजसकी छायाप्रनत इस पत्र के साथ सांलग्न कर आपके सूचनाथग भेजी जा रही है ।"
"श्री अववषेक र्सांह का आवेदन सांदर्भगत पत्र के माध्यम से प्राप्त हुआ है । इस सांबांि में सूधचत ककया जाता है कक आवेदक द्वारा माांर्ी र्यी सूचना पररवाद है तथावप ववषयाांककत आवेदन में माांर्ी र्यी सूचना तत ृ ीय पक्ष से सम्बांधित है ।
अतः अधिननयम की िारा 8 (i) (J) के तहत सुचना उपलब्ि कराये जाने से छुट है ।"
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 16.06.2023. The FAA vide its order dated 14.07.2023, held as under:
"श्री अववषेक र्सांह का अपील आवेदन उपरोक्त सांदर्भगत पत्र / पांजीकरण के माध्यम से प्राप्त हुआ है । इस सबांि में सूधचत ककया जाता है कक आवेदक का मूल आरटीआई० आवेदन के आलोक में पत्र सां० ई०/ननपटारा/RTI/5/2023 ददनाांक 01.06.2023 के तहत सूधचत ककया जा चुका है कक आपके द्वारा - ककया र्या आवेदन प्रकियािीन है , साथ ही यह भी अवर्त कराया जाता है कक माांर्ी र्यी सूचना तत ृ ीय पक्ष से सबांधित है । अधिननयम की िारा 8 (1) (j) के अन्तर्गत तत ृ ीय पक्ष से सबांधित सूचना उपलब्ि कराये जाने से छूट है ।"Page 3 of 7
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Not present.
Respondent: Mr. Ravi Kumar Pandit, APO/APIO present through video- conference.
The Respondent apprised the bench that the subject matter of letter under reference was non-payment of interest on gratuity amount to Mr. Rameshwar Choudhary, Ex EMP(G)/DHN regarding which the appellant has sought action taken report. However, no authority letter/consent of Mr. Rameshwar Choudhary was annexed with the RTI application. Hence, the reply has been provided to appellant accordingly with the denial of information.
A letter dated 05.11.2024 filed by Respondent is taken on record. Contents of the same are reproduced below, for the sake of clarity:
"सां० ई०/ननपटारा/रामेश्वर चौिरी/24 िनबाद ददनाांक 05-11.24 Sri Rameshwar Choudhary Ex ELP(G)/DHN Vill-Gaurnia PO & PS -Khejuri Dist-
Ballia (UP) PIN-277302 ववषय Non payment of interest as stipulated under Rule 87(1), liable to be paid due to excessive delay in payment of Gratuity caused by administrative reasons or lapse.
उपरोक्त सांदर्भगत ववषय के आलोक में सूधचत ककया जाता है कक आप रे ल सेवा से ददनाांक 31.01.2014 को सेवा ननवत ृ हुए। सेवा ननवनृ त के समय आपके द्वारा रे ल आवास खाली नहीां ककये जाने के कारण, उपादान की रार्ि स्थधर्त रखा र्या था। ददनाांक 28.02.2014 को रे लवे आवास खाली होने के उपरान्त उपादान की रार्ि रू० 909366/- (DCRG & CTO) चेक सां० 880551 ददनाांक 23.06.2014 के तहत जारी ककया र्या।Page 4 of 7
श्री रामेश्वर चौिरी, भू०पू० लोको पायलट / िनबाद अिीन TFR/DHN द्वारा Gratuity (DCRG) की रकम ना प्राप्त होने के सबांि में आवेदन प्रस्तुत ककया र्या। इस कायागलय का पत्राांक ई०/ननपटारा/रा०चौ०/09/2021 ददनाांक 08.09.2021 (सेवा पुजस्तका में इांद्राज प्रववजटटयों के आिार पर) के तहत सूधचत ककया र्या है कक उपादान/DCRG की रार्ि रू० 918918/, vide CO7 No. 0900257 dtd 11.06.2014 द्वारा आपको भुर्तान हे तु पाररत है ।
श्री अर्भषेक र्सांह, महामांत्री जनता श्रर्मक सांघ / िनबाद द्वारा पररवाद आवेदन ददनाांक 05.01.2023 (छायाप्रनत सांलग्न) इस कायागलय को प्राप्त हुआ है , जजसके अनुसार यह सूधचत ककया जाता है कक श्री रामेश्वर चौिरी, भू०पू० लोको पायलट / िनबाद अिीन TFR/DHN को Gratuity (DCRG) का भुर्तान अबतक अप्राप्त है । सबांधित मामले की छान बीन ककया र्या। लेखा ववभार्/िनबाद द्वारा मामले के सबांि में सूधचत ककया र्या कक रामेश्वर चौिरी के पक्ष में जारी चेक सां० 880551 dtd 23.06.2014 भुर्तान हे तु Divisional Case Office से प्राप्त नही ककया र्या। फलस्वरूप उक्त जारी चेक unpaid हो चुका था, जजसकी सूचना लेखा ववभार्/िनबाद द्वारा ददनाांक 20.01.2023 को इस कायागलय को प्राप्त हुआ । साथ ही लेखा ववभार्/िनबाद द्वारा सूधचत ककया र्या कक उक्त रार्ि का ववपत्र पे० ऑर्गर द्वारा IPAS Bill के माध्यम में भेजी जाए। लेखा ववभार् द्वारा ददये र्ये ननदे ि के अनुसार ददनाांक 23.01.2023 को ववपत्र तैयार कर श्री रामेश्वर चौिरी के पक्ष में Audit & Payment हे तु लेखा ववभार्/िनबाद को भेजा र्या। कुल रार्ि रू० 909366/- (DCRG & CTG) vide CO7 No. 30030222702314 dtd 23.01.2023 के तहत लेखा ववभार्/िनबाद द्वारा पास ककया र्या एवां उक्त रार्ि श्री रामेश्वर चौिरी का खाता में ददनाांक 24.01.2023 को जमा (Credited in Account) हो चुका है ।"
Upon being queried by the Commission regarding the locus standi of the appellant, the respondent stated that appellant has nowhere disclosed his relationship with the third party either in the RTI application or in the First Appeal or Second Appeal, hence, the information sought being personal in nature has been denied to him under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
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 Appeal was Page 5 of 7 denial of information by the Respondent. In response to which, the Respondent replied that since 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.
The Commission is of considered view that the respondent has appropriately denied the information to the appellant 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
(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:
Page 6 of 7"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 application nor in the instant appeal has the Appellant brought out any overriding public interest that will be served with the disclosure of the personal information of a third-party.
Hence, no cause of action subsists in this case under the RTI Act for further adjudication.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari (विनोद कुमार वििारी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्त) Authenticated true copy (अनिप्रमानणर् सत्यानपर् प्रनर्) (S. Anantharaman) Dy. Registrar 011- 26181927 Date Copy To:
The FAA Office of the Divisional Railway Manager, East Central Railway, Kasturba Nagar, Dhanbad - 826001 Page 7 of 7 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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