Central Information Commission
Neeraj Bedi vs National Medical Commission (Nmc) on 16 April, 2026
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/NMCOM/C/2025/609805
Neeraj Bedi ....िशकायतकता /Complainant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO
National Medical Commission
Dada Dev Mandir Rd, Block P
Sector 8 Dwarka, Dwarka, New
Delhi, Delhi-110077 ..... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 15.04.2026
Date of Decision : 16.04.2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Jaya Varma Sinha
Relevant facts emerging from complaint:
RTI application filed on : 10.08.2024
CPIO replied on : 10.12.2024
First appeal filed on : 09.09.2024
First Appellate Authority's order : 12.02.2025
Complaint dated : 26.02.2025
Information sought:
1. The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 10.08.2024 (online) seeking the following information:
"1. NMC has issued a Notice on 23/07/2024 regarding Impersonation of attendances in AEBAS in medical colleges/institutions reg on NMC portal.CIC/NMCOM/C/2025/609805 Page 1 of 5
2. Please provide a photocopy of all relevant Note-Sheets list of colleges information received etc. from all sources including list of Faculty using silicon finger prints available.
3. If any FIR Criminal proceedings initiated against the Faculty/College / Management, a copy of all such proceedings."
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 10.12.2024 stating as under:
"Reply :- No.CDN.21011.49.2023. Coordination.NMC It is informed that this CPIO deals with Policy & Coord. IT Division, NMC. However, the information available with CPIO(IT) as sought in the extant application may be treated as NIL. The Public Notice no. M.19011.11.2023 MARB.NMC (8244596) dated 23.07.2024 was issued by Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) and hence the information if any in this regard to be provided by CPIO(MARB) accordingly, the application is herewith transferred to the CPIO MARB u.s 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 for providing information directly to the applicant."
3. Being dissatisfied, the Complainant filed a First Appeal dated 09.09.2024.
The FAA vide its order dated 12.02.2024, held as under:
"The appellant has sought information vide RTI Request No.NMCND/R/E/24/01836/2 dated 10.08.2024.
The CPIO has replied vide RTI portal on 19.12.2024."
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Complainant: Present through VC.
Respondent: Shri Pankaj Kumar, Under Secretary, Shri Manish Kumar Mittal, Under Secretary, Shri Sanjay Kumar Sinha, Manager and Shri Subodh Kumar, CPIO-cum- Under Secretary, attended the hearing in person.
5. The Complainant stated that the Respondent has not provided the relevant information as sought in point No. 2 of the RTI Application.
6. The Respondent submitted that the information sought by the Complainant in the instant RTI Application is not available in the records of CIC/NMCOM/C/2025/609805 Page 2 of 5 Postgraduate Medical Education Board and the custodian is Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).
7. Shri Pankaj Kumar, Under Secretary, submitted that the relevant information based on available records has been given to the Complainant vide letter dated 13.02.2025, stating as under:
"It is informed that the relevant note sheet containing the proposal for issuing the Public Notice dated 23.07.2024 regarding the impersonation of attendance in AEBAS at medical colleges on the NMC portal is attached as Annexure. However, the compiled data of the said complaints are not available as complaints were received through various sources and to different officials of NMC through informal emails, letters, etc. These are not kept in compiled form. The matter was discussed at higher level and was decided to issue a public notice on 23.07.2024, advising faculty members of all medical institutions to personally mark their attendance in the AEBAS connected to NMC at their respective colleges, with non-compliance resulting in appropriate action. No FIR has been registered."
8. The Complainant interjected and apprised the Bench that he has not been provided copies of complaints received in MARB on the issues like fake faculties deployment and manipulation of Bio-Metric System in medical colleges across country. In response, Shri Pankaj Kumar, Under Secretary, assured the Bench he will provide the same to the Complainant subject to its availability.
9. A written submission has been received from Sh. Manish Kumar Mittal, CPIO, National Medical Commission vide letter dated 08.04.26, a copy of which has been sent to Appellant and the same has been taken on record. The relevant extract of the same is as under:
"With reference to the CIC Hearing Notice No. CIC/NMCOM/C/2025/609805 dated 18.03.2026, I am directed to state that Mr. Neeraj Bedi had sought information through his online RTI application dated 10.08.2024 (which was received by the PGMEB on 16.08.2024); in response to which, the CPIO provided the information on 09.09.2024 (a copy of which is enclosed). The First Appellate Authority transferred this matter to the First Appellate Authority of the IT Section on 08.10.2024, as the matter pertains to the IT Section. In this regard the information is furnished below S.NO Information sought Reply 1 1. NMC has issued a Notice on CIC/NMCOM/C/2025/609805 Page 3 of 5 23/07/2024 regarding Impersonation of attendances in AEBAS in medical colleges/institutions reg on Point no. 1 to 3 reply as NMC portal. under 2 2. Please provide a photocopy Information not available of all relevant Note-Sheets list in Postgraduate Medical of colleges information Education. Board, NMC. received etc. from all sources As such nil information including list of Faculty using silicon finger prints available.
3 3. If any FIR Criminal proceedings initiated against the Faculty/College/Management, a copy of all such proceedings.
Decision
10. The Commission observed that the present complaint was filed under Section 18 of the RTI Act, 2005 where the Commission was only required to ascertain if the information has been denied with a mala fide intent or due to an unreasonable cause or under any other clause of Section 18 of RTI Act. In this regard, the Commission relies on one judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in "Chief Information Commissioner & Anr. Vs. State of Manipur & Anr." bearing CIVIL APPEAL NOs.10787-10788 OF 2011 decided on 12.12.2011 has held as under:-
"Therefore, the procedure contemplated under Section 18 and Section 19 of the said Act is substantially different. The nature of the power under Section 18 is supervisory in character whereas the procedure under Section 19 is an appellate procedure and a person who is aggrieved by refusal in receiving the information which he has sought for can only seek redress in the manner provided in the statute, namely, by following the procedure under Section 19. This Court is, therefore, of the opinion that Section 7 read with Section 19 provides a complete statutory mechanism to a person who is aggrieved by refusal to receive information. Such person has to get the information by following the aforesaid statutory provisions. The contention of the appellant that information can be accessed through Section 18 is contrary to the express provision of Section 19 of the Act. It is well known when a procedure is laid down statutorily and there is no challenge to the said statutory procedure the Court should not, in the name of interpretation, lay down a procedure which is contrary to the express statutory provision. It is a time honoured principle as early as from the decision in Taylor v. Taylor [(1876) 1 Ch. D. 426] that where statute provides for something to be done CIC/NMCOM/C/2025/609805 Page 4 of 5 in a particular manner it can be done in that manner alone and all other modes of performance are necessarily forbidden."
11. The above ratio is applicable to this case as well. The records of the case do not indicate any such deliberate denial or concealment of information on the part of the CPIO.
12. Notwithstanding the above, Shri Pankaj Kumar, Under Secretary, has assured the bench that he will provide copies of complaints received in MARB on the issues like fake faculties deployment and manipulation of Bio- Metric System in medical colleges across country, to the Complainant (subject to its availability), no mala fide on his part is established, and no cause of action under the provisions of Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005, is warranted in the instant complaint. However, he is advised to fulfill his commitment made during the hearing.
The Complaint is disposed off accordingly.
Jaya Varma Sinha (जया वमा िस ा) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) (Ashutosh Vasistha) Dy. Registrar 011- 26107042 Copy To:
The FAA National Medical Commission Dada Dev Mandir Rd, Block P Sector 8 Dwarka, Dwarka, New Delhi, Delhi-110077 NEERAJ BEDI CIC/NMCOM/C/2025/609805 Page 5 of 5 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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