Central Information Commission
Mr.A Haja Mohideen vs Central Bank on 12 August, 2010
Central Information Commission
File No.CIC/SM/A/2009/001785 dated 27112008
Right to Information Act2005Under Section (19)
Dated: 12 August 2010
Name of the Appellant : Shri A Haja Mohideen 23, T P K Road, Opp. to Malai Murasu, Madurai - 625 002.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Central Bank of India, Tallakulam, Madurai - 625 002.
The Appellant was not present in spite of notice. On behalf of the Respondent, the following were present:
(i) Shri Ravi Kumar, Law Officer,
(ii) Shri Subramaniam
2. In this case, the Appellant had, in his application dated 27 November 2008, requested the CPIO for a large number of details regarding the loan sanctioned to one Varuni Biomass Energy Private Limited. In his reply dated 1 December 2008, the CPIO refused to disclose the information by claiming that it was about a third party borrower of the bank. Not satisfied with this reply, the Appellant preferred an appeal on 8 December 2008. The Appellate Authority dismissed the appeal in his order dated 15 December 2008 by holding that the seeker of the information was not a citizen and therefore could not seek any CIC/SM/A/2009/001785 information. It is against this order that the Appellant has come to the CIC in second appeal.
3. We heard this case through videoconferencing. The Appellant was not present in spite of notice. The Respondents represent both in the Madurai and Chennai studios. We heard their submissions. We carefully considered the RTI application. The Appellant has sought various details about the loan account of a third party borrower of the bank. He has no authorisation from the borrower to seek such information. The bank holds such information in commercial confidence and cannot be expected ordinarily to disclose such information to anyone else. Therefore, we find no fault in the response of the CPIO. The appeal is, thus, disallowed.
4. 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/2009/001785