Central Information Commission
Amandeep Singh vs Department Of Personnel & Training on 12 October, 2017
Central Information Commission
Room No.307, II Floor, B Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066
website-cic.gov.in
Appeal No. CIC/DOP&T/A/2017/184533/MP
Appellant : Shri Amandeep Singh, Udham Singh Nagar (U.K.)
Public Authority : Deptt of Personnel & Training, New Delhi
Date of Hearing : September 29, 2017
Date of Decision : October 11, 2017
Present:
Appellant : Not present
Respondent : Shri Prem Chand, Under Secretary - at CIC
RTI application : 1.2.2016
CPIO's reply : March, 2016
First appeal : 21.6.2016
FAA's order : 6.7.2016
Second appeal : 2.11.2016
ORDER
1. Shri Amandeep Singh, the appellant, sought caste certificate of one Dr. Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh (IAS).
2. The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) informed the appellant that the details including the caste certificate as contained in UPSC dossiers of IAS officers could not be shared with the appellant as the disclosure of the same would affect a third party and was exempt u/s 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, 2005. The appellant, disagreeing with the CPIO, approached the First Appellate Authority (FAA) with a request to direct the CPIO to provide the document as sought by the appellant. The FAA upheld the decision of the CPIO. Not satisfied, the appellant came in appeal before the Commission reiterating his request for providing the information/document sought by him in public interest.
3. The matter was heard by the Commission. The appellant was not present during the hearing despite the notice for hearing having been duly sent to him.
4. The respondent stated that the appellant had sought personal information of third party (candidate concerned) which could not be disclosed to him and the CPIO had responded accordingly. The appellant was not present to put forth his contentions, if any.
5. On hearing the respondent and perusing the available records, the Commission observes that caste certificate of third party is his/her personal information and the public authority, to which it is submitted, holds it in the fiduciary capacity and is, therefore, exempt from disclosure u/s 8(1)(e) & 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. Moreover, the appellant had not established any larger public interest for the disclosure of the information to him, to the satisfaction of the Commission. The decision of this Commission in the case of Shri G. Venkatesh Bhovi Vs. Department of Posts (Appeal No. CIC/BS/A/2012/001202/3483, decision dated 18.09.2013), is also referred to:
"The caste and educational certificates of an employee are in the nature of personal information about a third party. The employee might have filed these documents before the appointing authority for the purpose of seeking employment, but that is not reason enough for this information to be brought in to the public domain to which anybody could have access. Apart from this, the appellant has not been able to demonstrate any public purpose which the disclosure of this information would serve."
The appeal is disposed of.
(Manjula Prasher) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy:
Dy Registrar Copy to:
The Central Public Information Officer The First Appellate Authority Department of Personnel & Training, Department of Personnel & Training, Under Secretary (AIS-I), Deputy Secretary (AIS), North Block, New Delhi -110 001 North Block, New Delhi -110 001 Shri Amandeep Singh, State Org. Secretary, Lord Buddha Club, Village - Thonpuri (Jurka), Post - Kundeshwari, Tehsil - Kashipur, Distt.- Udham Singh Nagar (U.K.) - 244 713