Central Information Commission
Shri Ram Prakash vs Municipal Corp. Of Delhi (Mcd) Slum & Jj on 25 August, 2008
To issue in Hindi
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Appeal No.CIC/WB/A/2008/00216 dated 4.1.2008
Right to Information Act 2005 - Section 19
Appellant - Shri Ram Prakash
Respondent - Municipal Corp. of Delhi (MCD) Slum & JJ
Facts:
By an application of 15.2.07, assigned ID No. 690, Shri Ram Prakash of Raghubir Nagar, New Delhi applied to Slum & JJ Dep't. M.C.D. seeking the following information:
1. "What was the area of Shop No. D-2, when allotted. In lieu of which place it was allotted. Against which shop No. it was allotted and in whose name it was allotted.
2. We gave an application regarding Shop No. 2D on 12.1.05. Again gave an application on 14.6.05. In these applications, we made a complaint about unauthorized construction up to road on roadside of this shop by my younger brother Shri Kishan Lal, which consists of first and second floor. By this unauthorized construction, he is earning Rs. 9000 to 10000/- per month. This unauthorized construction be demolished, which action has not been taken till date. What action has been taken and with whom these applications are lying. Was MCD informed of this Shop No. 2.
Please provide full detail and take immediate action to demolish this unauthorized construction, even if so desired in collaboration with M.C.D.
3. Copies of application dated 12.1.06 submitted by us along with documents for proof and map etc. be provided and copies of documents furnished on 14.6.05 along with application by my brothers including wrong wills in favour of their wives be provided. These documents should be attested one and should contain all stamps along with allotment letter for Shop No. 2 and other relevant papers in the file.
4. Copies of photos taken by employees of Zone on 16.6.05 in connection with unauthorized construction over shop No. D-2 along with measurements recorded by them on 15.2.06 for Shop No. D-2. What measurements were recorded by them for House No. 21-A 1 including constructed area on it may please be provided. Zone employees included one Shri Malik and the other we recognize by face and do not know his name.
To this he received a reply from PIO Slum & JJ Dep't, MCD. on 7.3.07 attaching a report received from the Director (JJR) as follows:
1. "We are unable to provide information because the file relating to this shop is untraceable. In this connection, applicant has already been informed vide DRIA No. 24/06 regarding information sought by him earlier.
2. This action is under consideration in JJ Survey Dep't.
3. Information asked vide Para No. 3 does not relate to this Department. Therefore, photo copies of information vide applications dated 12.1.05 and 14.6.05 from Zonal Office are not being provided. We are also unable to certify it as it is not in record of our office.
4. Zonal Office (West) has not issued any orders regarding taking of photographs or taking measurement of this unauthorized construction. Therefore, we are unable to provide any information."
This response also invited the applicant to inspect the files in the Office of Director (JJR), a curious invitation since the Director JJR's report stated that there was no file to inspect. Not satisfied with this response, Shri Ram Prakash moved his first appeal on 9.4.07 contesting the response received. Upon this an order was issued on 1.8.07, a copy of which was not received by appellant Shri Ram Prakash, even though a hearing had been held by Shri A. B. Shukla, First Appellate Authority and Addl. Commissioner, Slum & JJ on 30.7.'07. However, a report stated to be in compliance with these orders dated 22.8.07 was received by Shri Ram Prakash, which stated as follows:
"With reference to your application in DRIA, it is inform you that the competent authority has approved the sealing of plots No. D-1 to D- VII Subhash Market, Raghubir Nagar, New Delhi and the sealing action is in process."
Subsequently on 1.1.08 Shri Ram Prakash moved a further complaint before First Appellate Authority for non-compliance as below:
2"Officers against whom complaint has been made:
Director of Estate Shri D.P.Ture Asstt. Director Shri Kundan Lal Dy. Director Shri M. R. Sharma Two Officers of Zonal Office: 1. Shri Kamal Singh and other's name we do not know.
We had also made written complaints on 8.10.07 and 15.11.07. Those complaints be read with this complaint carefully. - Ram Prakash This complaint is against these officers as well as against Shop No. D-1 o D-7, Subhash Market, JJ Colony, Raghubir Nagar."
Almost at the same time he also moved his second appeal before us submitting that he had not received the information sought, as below:
"We request you to read details of dates of hearing carefully and then fine them Rs. 25000/- and provide us little justice. For balance justice and compensation, we will move Hon'ble High Court and Consumer Forum, because we have been harassed intentionally. We have paid fees as also charge of Rs. 2/- per page. Later on we came to know that those having BPL Ration Card are not charged for this amount. They have taken advantage of our ignorance about it and also our inability to understand English."
The ground on which he has based this appeal is as below:
"We had given written complaints to Appellate Authority on every date of hearing i.e. 26.9.07, 8.10.07 and again on 15.11.07 and 1.1.08 along with proof that these officers are telling lies and furnishing misleading information but the Appellate Authority has not taken any action and continued giving dates again and again whereas it is mandated to furnish information within 30 days. Therefore, they may be fined Rs. 25,000/- so that we get little peace of mind. All these five officers and Appellate Authority are aware that I am suffering from four big disease including Asthma. "
This was followed by a prayer of 30.5.08 requesting an out of turn hearing on grounds of appellant's age. The appeal was heard on 25.8.08. The following are present:
Appellant Shri Ram Prakash 3 Respondents Shri M. R. Sharma, Dy. Director Shri D.P.Ture, PIO Because there was no copy of the orders of the First Appellate Authority on file, even though a copy of the compliance report was included, we sought and obtained in the hearing the order of Shri A. B. Shukla, First Appellate Authority of 1.8.07. This reads as follows:
"Jt. Director (DRIA) is directed to give complete reply before the next date of hearing.
The case is adjourned to 22.8.07 at 11.00 a.m."
A copy was also handed over to appellant Shri Ram Prakash in the hearing. Shri Ram Prakash made a written submission with the following prayer :
a) You are requested to call First Appellate Authority Shri A.B. Shukla in the hearing.
b) All those officers, who have given first information may be asked to appear in the hearing.
c) Shri M.R.Sharma, who had heard an appeal on 22.8.07 and provided a small portion of information may be called to appear in the hearing.
d) The Survey Department of this Zone may be asked to bring details of first survey done on 15.2.06 and second survey done on 8.3.07 including maps for Shop Nos. 1 to 7, defining area on which construction has been done, so that it could be established that misleading information has been furnished that file is in Court and CBI . Only then it can be established that information provided on 3.3.06 is also wrong. Survey Diary No.:
First Survey 15.2.06 or 16.2.06 Sh. G.S.Mehra 3/50/JJR/06 Second survey : 8.3.07 R-93 Survey Officer Sh. D.P.Ture"
From the above, it is clear that all what Appellant Shri Ram Prakash is seeking is compliance with the orders of the First Appellate Authority. On the other hand Shri M. R. Sharma, Dy. Director MCD submitted that the original file 4 on this subject is untraced and has remained untraced despite efforts to recover it since last year.
DECISION NOTICE The applicant Shri Ram Prakash has approached this Commission submitting, inter-alia, that in spite of the orders passed by the First Appellate Authority, which he had not received but was aware of from the hearing before 1st appellate authority, the PIO has not complied with the orders and the information requested has not been furnished till date.
From the facts above, it appears that this is a case of malafide denial of information by the PIO. However since it is the responsibility of the First Appellate Authority to ensure that the orders passed by him are duly complied with by the PIO, and some inadequacies in exchanging documents now stand addressed, the Commission has decided to remand the case back to the First Appellate Authority Shri A. B. Shukla, Addl. Commissioner (Slum & JJ) to ensure that his orders under section 19 (1) are duly complied with and the requested information furnished in terms of the order so passed. In doing so, he will ensure the supply of specific information sought to appellant Shri Ram Prakash.
If the compliance is not ensured within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order, the FAA should approach this Commission for initiation of proceedings under section 20 of the RTI Act for imposition of penalty and / or recommending appropriate disciplinary action. This will be without prejudice to the right of the first Appellate Authority to initiate other penal action under the Indian Penal Code against the PIO for willful violation of lawful orders promulgated by a public servant while exercising statutory powers.
If however, it is found that information cannot be provided because the file remains untraced, we hold that it is the responsibility of the Public Authority 5 concerned as custodian of the file to ensure their safe custody. For having failed to do so and thus having resulted in harassment and undue delay in response to appellant Shri Ram Prakash's request for information, we accept the plea for compensation for detriment suffered u/s 19 (8) sub0section (b). In that case we direct that an amount of Rs. 3000/- (Rupees three thousand only) be paid to him by the Sum & JJ Wing of the DDA under intimation to Shri Pankaj K.P. Shreyaskar, Joint Registrar of this Commission. This payment will follow on the elapsing of the fifteen days allowed to respondents for tracing and providing the information sought and take no more than twenty days from the date of receipt of this Decision Notice.
The appeal is allowed. Announced in the hearing. Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties.
(Wajahat Habibullah) Chief Information Commissioner 25.8.2008 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.
(Pankaj Shreyaskar) Joint Registrar 25.8.2008 6