Central Information Commission
Shri Dhani Ram vs National Highways Authority Of India ... on 4 February, 2010
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
.....
F.No.CIC/AT/A/2009/000420
& F.No.CIC/AT/C/2009/000752
Dated, the 04th February, 2010.
Appellant : Shri Dhani Ram
Respondents : National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
This matter was heard on 02.02.2010 in the presence of both parties. Appellant was present in person, while the respondents were represented by Shri Vinay Kumar Rajawat, General Manager (Tech) and Shri R.K. Chawla, Project Director.
2. It is found that appellant, through his RTI-application dated 18.09.2008, has asked as many as 88 questions, which were answered point-wise by CPIO on 20.01.2009. Appellate Authority decided the matter in first-appeal on 16.03.2009.
3. This is one of the several cases reaching the Commission in which an applicant is seen to have asked as many queries as this appellant has ⎯ numbering 88 ⎯ which sometimes go well over hundred queries in a single application.
4. Section 6(1) enjoins an applicant to seek "an information"
through an RTI-application. Commission has interpreted its provision to mean that not just a single query through a single application, an applicant can ask a certain number of queries should the subject-matter of all be common. Commission, in its decision dated 19.06.2009 in Rajendra Singh Vs. CBI; Complaint No.CIC/WB/C/2007/00967, had noted as follows:-
"In our experience in disposing of appeals that in fact many such have been treated as one application even though they contain a multiplicity of requests. However, we concede that a request may be comprised of a question with several clarificatory or supporting questions stemming from the information sought. Such an application will indeed be treated as a single request and charged for accordingly."
5. From that standpoint, this applicant's rambling application for answers to his 88 queries deserves to be rejected. I, however, noticed that respondents have patiently answered each one of his numerous AT-04022010-06.doc Page 1 of 2 queries, a majority of which were rambling enquiries about their conduct and explanations for actions taken or not taken.
6. Applicants such as this need to be firmly told that they cannot use the provisions of the RTI Act to raise multiple queries when the law authorizes him only to ask one or a few similar queries.
7. In view of the above, this appeal deserves no consideration. Rejected.
Complaint No.CIC/AT/C/2009/000752:
8. Respondents pointed out that there were certain delays in answering appellant's RTI-application on account of the fact that he had packed his single application with 88 multiple queries for which information had to be collected and collated leading to the delays.
9. I accept the explanation of the respondents. Matter closed.
10. Copy of this direction be sent to the parties.
( A.N. TIWARI ) INFORMATION COMMISSIONER AT-04022010-06.doc Page 2 of 2