Central Information Commission
Neeraj B Karade vs Registrar Of Newspapers Of India on 21 January, 2022
CIC/RNIND/A/2020/117842
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या/ Second Appeal No. CIC/RNIND/A/2020/117842
In the matter of:
Neeraj B Karade ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO, ... ितवादीगण /Respondent
/Assistant Press Registrar (Hqrs)
O/O Registrar of Newspaper of
India, West Block 8, Wing No 2,
R K Puram, New Delhi -110066
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI Application filed on : 03.01.2020
CPIO replied on : Not on Record
First Appeal filed on : 27.02.2020
First Appellate Authority order : Not on Record
Second Appeal received on : 02.07.2020
Date of Hearing : 20.01.2022
The following were present:
Appellant: Shri Neeraj B Karade participated in the hearing upon being contacted
on his telephone.
Respondent: Shri Michael Tonchuipam, CPIO and Registration Supervisor
participated in the hearing upon being contacted on his telephone.
Page 1 of 6
CIC/RNIND/A/2020/117842
ORDER
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI Application dated 03.01.2020 seeking information as under:
"Information in respect of "NAVRASHTRA" (Marathi Daily) Nagpur Edition. (MAHMAR/2000/02091)
a) Please provide the following information for the period from 2015-2016, 2016-
2017, 2017-2018 & 2018-2019 in respect of "NAVRASHTRA" (Marathi Daily) - Nagpur Edition.
i) Circulation Certificate.
ii) Print order register with indent.
iii) Bill register.
iv) Transport bills of both paper and newsprint.
v) Newsprint purchase bills.
vi) Newsprint consumption register.
vii) Electricity bill.
viii) Manpower, machine capacity and number of machines.
ix) Printing schedule.
x) Newsprint transport bills and LR.
xi) Agent recovery registers with covering.
xii) Agent ledger.
xiii) RNI auditors report with documents. (visit note)
xiv) Annual Statement.
xv) Newsprint payment confirmation."
Having not received any information from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 27.02.2020, which has not been adjudicated by the First Appellate Authority as per available records.
Grounds for Second Appeal:
The Appellant filed a Second Appeal u/s 19 of the Act on the ground of unsatisfactory reply furnished by the Respondent. The Appellant requested the Commission to direct the CPIO to provide complete information sought for.Page 2 of 6
CIC/RNIND/A/2020/117842 Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
In order to ensure social distancing and prevent the spread of the pandemic, COVID-19, the instant hearing is being scheduled through audio conference after informing both the parties.
The Appellant stated that he has not received any information from the Respondent till date. Upon queried by the Commission as to whether the Appellant is associated with the averred Navrashtra newspaper, he replied in negative. Upon further queried by the Commission as to what is the larger public interest in seeking the averred information, he explained that the concerned newspaper is making false and inappropriate statements pertaining to circulation and other allied information. In order to authenticate their statement, the present RTI Application was filed.
The Respondent reiterated the contents of the written submission dated 17.01.2022. He submitted that a copy of the said reply dated 17.01.2022 was sent to the Appellant on his email address as well as through speed post. Upon queried by the Commission as to whether the annual statement is available in the public domain, he explained that annual statement will be available in the public domain i.e., RNI's website only if the publisher provides a copy of the same to the Respondent public authority.Page 3 of 6
CIC/RNIND/A/2020/117842 A written submission has been received by the Commission from Shri Michael Tonchuipam, CPIO and Registration Supervisor vide letter dated 17.01.2022, wherein he/she has apprised the Commission as under:
Decision:
Upon perusal of the facts on record as well as on the basis of the proceedings during the hearing, the Commission observes that though the reason provided by the Respondent public authority for delay in providing the averred information is convincing, the Commission cautions the Respondent public authority to be careful in future and shall ensure that replies/communications should be sent to the applicants within the stipulated time-frame as specified in the provisions of the RTI Act. As far as the information sought by the Appellant in the present RTI Page 4 of 6 CIC/RNIND/A/2020/117842 Application is concerned, the Respondent public authority has rightly denied the same under the pretext of third party. Moreso, the reason provided by the Appellant upon queried by the Commission to establish the larger public interest is not convincing. Hence, the Commission finds no further scope of intervention in the instant matter.
With the above observations, the instant Second Appeal is disposed of. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
The Appeal, hereby, stands disposed of.
Amita Pandove (अिमता पांडव) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) दनांक / Date: 20.01.2022 Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स यािपत ित) B. S. Kasana (बी. एस. कसाना) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26105027 Page 5 of 6 CIC/RNIND/A/2020/117842 Addresses of the parties:
1. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) /Deputy Registrar O/O Registrar of Newspaper of India, 9th Floor, Soochna Bhawan, Lodhi Road, CGO Complex, New Delhi -110003
2. The Central Public Information Officer /Assistant Press Registrar(Hqrs) O/O Registrar of Newspaper of India, West Block 8, Wing No 2, R K Puram, New Delhi -110066
3. Mr. Neeraj B Karade Page 6 of 6