Central Information Commission
Mr.Amlesh Gupta vs Consumer Affairs, Food And Civil ... on 21 March, 2011
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Club Building (Near Post Office)
Old JNU Campus, New Delhi - 110067
Tel: +91-11-26161796
Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2011/000118/11570
Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2011/000118
Relevant Facts emerging from the Appeal:
Appellant : Mr. Amlesh Gupta
Classic Communication,
Shop no. 11, CSC Market,
Pocket A-8, Kalkaji Extension,
New Delhi - 110019
Respondent (1) : Mr. Chokhe Lal
Public Information Officer & Assistant Commissioner (HQ) Food and Supplies Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi K- Block, Vikash Bhawa, I.P. Estate, New Delhi - 110002 (2) : Mr. P. K. Mehresh, System Analyst, Computer Branch, Department of Food and Supplies, K-Block, Vikash Bhawan, 3rd Floor, ITO, Delhi.
RTI application filed on : 13/07/2010 PIO replied : Not mentioned. First appeal filed on : 18/09/2010 First Appellate Authority order : 27/10/2010. Second Appeal received on : 11/01/2011 Sl. Information sought
1. What action taken by the Dy. Commissioner on the application submitted on 13/04/2010 vide diary no.
1818/A/CFS/16/14/10.
2. If no action has been taken give reasons thereof. If action is being taken give progress report.
3. Since June 2010 how many cards were by certified give complete details with card number and name. PIO's reply:
Not mentioned.
First Appeal:
No information was provided by the PIO.
Order of the FAA:
The undersigned has gone through the main RTI application and observed that the appellant has sought information regarding action taken by the department on the complaint of one Mr. Sandeep Gupta filed by him vide letter dt. 13.4.2010. In this connection, PIO(HQ) informed vide his letter dt. 30.8.2010 enclosing therewith a copy of letter dt. 20.8.20 10 and reply of APIO (Vigilance Branch) stating therein that complaint has been forwarded to the concerned Assistant Commissioners for taking necessary action. The appeal is disposed of with the above observation. Ordered accordingly.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The following were present:
Appellant : Mr. Amlesh Gupta;
Respondent (s): Mr. V. S. Malik, FSO(RTI) on behalf of Mr. Chokhe Lal, PIO/AC (HQ); Mr. Shakti Bangar, FSO(C-
51) on behalf of PIO/AC (South) Mr. Manoj Kumar Das; Mr. Raj Kumar Bishoi, UDC;
The Appellant states that rations have been stopped to 44172 APL card holders in the eight zones as per information received by him in RTI. It appears that the rations have been stopped due to non entry in the data base of the computers. Mr. Sandeep Gupta had given a complaint about this and had sought to know the action taken on this. The number of cards for which rationing was not being provided is as follows:
Sl. Circle no. Number of cards 1. 6 376 2. 11 4917 3. 21 25200 4. 28 926 5. 52 887 6. 61 3238 7. 64 1471 8. 70 7157 Total number of 44172 cards:
The Appellant had submitted an RTI application asking about action taken about restoration of 44172 cards. The Respondents explained that as per Delhi Government Circular in 2008 APL Ration Card holders with annual income less than Rs.100,000/- were to be given rations at fixed rates. The applications were taken but 44172 card holders were not given rations because of non entry in the database. The respondent states that this has happened since the computer systems are not working properly and connectivity is unreliable and extremely poor. The Appellant has been provided information only by erstwhile Circle-52 (51). The appellant has not been provided information from all the other circles. The Respondent Mr. Shakti Bangar, FSO(C-51) states that the entire information would be available with Mr. P. K. Mehresh, System Analyst, Computer Branch, Department of Food and Supplies, K-Block, Vikash Bhawan, 3rd Floor, ITO, Delhi.
It is scandalous that since computer systems and connectivity is not proper 44172 families in Delhi which should get rations at a fixed price are unable to get them. Government Policies appear to be the victim of a completely inefficient computer system.
The Respondents also informed the Commission that a large number of cardholders (around 70000) in the category of un-reviewed cards are also suffering because of inefficient operation of the computer systems. The Commission directs the Food Commissioner to look into the disenfranchisement of over 100,000 families in Delhi because of improper functioning of the computer systems according to the Respondents.
Decision:
The Appeal is allowed.
The Commission directs Mr. P. K. Mehresh, System Analyst to provide the complete information about the restoration of Food Grain Allocation to the 44172 cards holders to the Appellant and the Commission before 10 April 2011.
The Commission also directs the Food Commissioner to send a compliance report to the Commission about the action taken about disenfranchisement of over 100,000 families to the Commission before 20 April 2011.
This decision is announced in open chamber.
Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties. Any information in compliance with this Order will be provided free of cost as per Section 7(6) of RTI Act.
Shailesh Gandhi Information Commissioner 21 March 2011 (In any correspondence on this decision, mention the complete decision number.) (Su) CC:
To, Food Commissioner, K- Block, Vikash Bhawan, Delhi ;