Central Information Commission
Sharvan Kumar Sharma vs Delhi Development Authority on 14 May, 2019
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या / Second Appeal No./ िशकायत सं या / Complaint No.:-
CIC/DDATY/A/2018/121562-BJ+
CIC/DDATY/C/2018/128127-BJ
Mr. Sharvan Kumar Sharma
....अपीलकता/Appellant
.... िशकायतकता /Complainant
VERSUS
बनाम
1. CPIO
Asst. Director (RTI), Nodal Officer
Delhi Development Authority (RTI Implementation & Co-ordination Branch)
C - Block, 3rd Floor, Vikas Sadan, INA
New Delhi - 110023
2. CPIO & Executive Engineer (P)
Civil Circle - 13, Delhi Development Authority
Office of the Executive Engineer (Plg. - 1)
Civic Circle - 13, Manglapuri
New Delhi - 110045
... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 09.05.2019
Date of Decision : 14.05.2019
ORDER
RTI - I File No. CIC/DDATY/A/2018/121562-BJ Date of RTI application 01.01.2018 CPIO's response 09.01.2018 Date of the First Appeal 26.02.2018 First Appellate Authority's response 20.04.2018 Date of diarised receipt of Appeal by the Commission 04.04.2018 Page 1 of 7 FACTS:
The Appellant vide his RTI application sought information on 07 points regarding the water bill for flats in Sector 26, Dwarka, name of the water meter reader with his Mobile Number and Office Address, whether the water bill made after inspecting the flat where there was no connection/ no water in use/ no residence, etc. The CPIO and Asst. Director (RTI) vide its letter dated 09.01.2018 transferred the RTI application to the EE (P) Civil and AD (Pension) DDA. Dissatisfied by the response, the Appellant approached the FAA. The FAA, Range 17, DDA, vide its order letter dated 13.03.2018 requested the FAA and EE, Range 13 to provide a response to the Appellant.
RTI - II File No. CIC/DDATY/C/2018/128127-BJ Date of filing of RTI application 01.01.2018 CPIO's response 11.04.2018/ 16.05.2018 Date of filing the First appeal 23.04.2018 First Appellate Authority's response 20.04.2018 Date of diarised receipt of Complaint by the Commission 04.05.2018 FACTS:
The Complainant vide his RTI application sought information on 12 points regarding the water bill for flats in Sector 26, Dwarka, name of the water meter reader with his Mobile Number and Office Address, whether the water bill made after inspecting the flat where there was no connection/ no water in use/ no residence, etc. The CPIO and Executive Engineer (P), Civil Circle-13, DDA, vide its letter dated 11.04.2018 forwarded a copy of the response received from various authorities. Dissatisfied by the response, the Complainant approached the FAA. The FAA, vide its order dated 20.04.2018 concurred with the response of the CPIO.
HEARING:
Facts emerging during the hearing:
The following were present:
Appellant / Complainant: Absent;
Respondent: Mr. R. K. Gupta, EE and Mr. Narendra Kumar, Consultant, Mr. Anil Kumar Verma, AD and Mr. Rajesh Kumar, EE;
The Appellant/Complainant remained absent during the hearing. However, the Commission was in receipt of a written submission from the Appellant dated 24.04.2019 (Appeal No. CIC/DDATY/A/2018/121562-BJ) wherein while reiterating the transfer response of the CPIO dated 09.01.2018, it was submitted that the PIO, Executive Engineer (P) Civil Circle-13, DDA had replied to the request on 30.07.2018. Moreover, the FAA, Superintendent Engineer, Civil Circle-13, DDA refused to take 1st Appeal of the Applicant sent through speed post dated 20.03.2018. Therefore, it was requested to the Commission to impose maximum penalty of Rs. 25,000/- as per Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 and to initiate Disciplinary Action under Page 2 of 7 Section 20(2) under Service Rules applicable on him as also to conduct inquiry under Section 18(1) against the FAA who had refused to take First Appeal of the Appellant on 20.03.2018.
The Respondent while explaining the background in the matter, submitted that after receipt of the desired information from the Office of the Executive Engineer, Western Division No. 9, DDA vide letter dated 11.05.2018, the reply was forwarded to the Appellant/Complainant on 30.07.2018. The Commission was also in receipt of a written submission from the First Appellate Authority, Executive Engineer, Civil Circle-17 dated 24.04.2019 (Appeal No. CIC/DDATY/A/2018/121562-BJ) wherein while reiterating the chronological sequences of the transfers made to the concerned departments, it was intimated that as the information sought by the Appellant in the RTI application and the First Appeal did not pertain to their office, the same was transferred to the concerned officer, under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005, to whom the case was closely related to.
The Commission referred to the definition of information u/s 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005 which is reproduced below:
"information" means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e- mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, report, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force."
Furthermore, a reference can also be made to the relevant extract of Section 2 (j) of the RTI Act, 2005 which reads as under:
"(j) right to information" means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes ........"
In this context a reference was made to the Hon'ble Supreme Court decision in 2011 (8) SCC 497 (CBSE and Anr. Vs. Aditya Bandopadhyay and Ors), wherein it was held as under:
35..... "It is also not required to provide 'advice' or 'opinion' to an applicant, nor required to obtain and furnish any 'opinion' or 'advice' to an applicant. The reference to 'opinion' or 'advice' in the definition of 'information' in section 2(f) of the Act, only refers to such material available in the records of the public authority. Many public authorities have, as a public relation exercise, provide advice, guidance and opinion to the citizens. But that is purely voluntary and should not be confused with any obligation under the RTI Act."
Furthermore, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Khanapuram Gandaiah Vs. Administrative Officer and Ors. Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.34868 OF 2009 (Decided on January 4, 2010) had held as under:
6. "....Under the RTI Act "information" is defined under Section 2(f) which provides:
"information" means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e- mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, report, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force."Page 3 of 7
This definition shows that an applicant under Section 6 of the RTI Act can get any information which is already in existence and accessible to the public authority under law. Of course, under the RTI Act an applicant is entitled to get copy of the opinions, advices, circulars, orders, etc., but he cannot ask for any information as to why such opinions, advices, circulars, orders, etc. have been passed."
7. "....the Public Information Officer is not supposed to have any material which is not before him; or any information he could have obtained under law. Under Section 6 of the RTI Act, an applicant is entitled to get only such information which can be accessed by the "public authority" under any other law for the time being in force. The answers sought by the petitioner in the application could not have been with the public authority nor could he have had access to this information and Respondent No. 4 was not obliged to give any reasons as to why he had taken such a decision in the matter which was before him."
With regard to the imposition of penalty on the CPIO/PIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005, the Commission took note of the ruling of Hon'ble Delhi High Court in W.P.(C) 11271/2009 Registrar of Companies & Ors v. Dharmendra Kumar Garg & Anr. (delivered on:
01.06.2012) wherein it was held:
" 61. Even if it were to be assumed for the sake of argument, that the view taken by the learned Central Information Commissioner in the impugned order was correct, and that the PIOs were obliged to provide the information, which was otherwise retrievable by the querist by resort to Section 610 of the Companies Act, it could not be said that the information had been withheld malafide or deliberately without any reasonable cause. It can happen that the PIO may genuinely and bonafidely entertain the belief and hold the view that the information sought by the querist cannot be provided for one or the other reasons. Merely because the CIC eventually finds that the view taken by the PIO was not correct, it cannot automatically lead to issuance of a showcause notice under Section 20 of the RTI Act and the imposition of penalty. The legislature has cautiously provided that only in cases of malafides or unreasonable conduct, i.e., where the PIO, without reasonable cause refuses to receive the application, or provide the information, or knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroys the information, that the personal penalty on the PIO can be imposed. This was certainly not one such case. If the CIC starts imposing penalty on the PIOs in every other case, without any justification, it would instill a sense of constant apprehension in those functioning as PIOs in the public authorities, and would put undue pressure on them. They would not be able to ful fill their statutory duties under the RTI Act with an independent mind and with objectivity. Such consequences would not auger well for the future development and growth of the regime that the RTI Act seeks to bring in, and may lead to skewed and imbalanced decisions by the PIOs Appellate Authorities and the CIC. It may even lead to unreasonable and absurd orders and bring the institutions created by the RTI Act in disrepute."
Similarly, the following observation of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in Bhagat Singh v. CIC & Ors. WP(C) 3114/2007 are pertinent in this matter:
"17. This Court takes a serious note of the two year delay in releasing information, the lack of adequate reasoning in the orders of the Public Information Officer and the Appellate Authority and the lack of application of mind in relation to the nature of Page 4 of 7 information sought. The materials on record clearly show the lackadaisical approach of the second and third respondent in releasing the information sought. However, the Petitioner has not been able to demonstrate that they malafidely denied the information sought. Therefore, a direction to the Central Information Commission to initiate action under Section 20 of the Act, cannot be issued."
Furthermore, the High Court of Delhi in the decision of Col. Rajendra Singh v. Central Information Commission and Anr. WP (C) 5469 of 2008 dated 20.03.2009 had held as under:
"Section 20, no doubt empowers the CIC to take penal action and direct payment of such compensation or penalty as is warranted. Yet the Commission has to be satisfied that the delay occurred was without reasonable cause or the request was denied malafidely.
......The preceding discussion shows that at least in the opinion of this Court, there are no allegations to establish that the information was withheld malafide or unduly delayed so as to lead to an inference that petitioner was responsible for unreasonably withholding it."
Furthermore, the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in the matter of R.K. Jain vs Union of India, LPA No. 369/2018, dated 29.08.2018, held as under:
"9................................ That apart, the CPIO being custodian of the information or the documents sought for, is primarily responsible under the scheme of the RTI Act to supply the information and in case of default or dereliction on his part, the penal action is to be invoked against him only. The Appellate Authority is not the custodian of the information or the document. It is only a statutory authority to take a decision on an appeal with regard the tenability or otherwise of the action of the CPIO and, therefore, there is a conscious omission in making the Appellate Authority liable for a penal action under Section 20 of the RTI Act and if that be the scheme of the Act and the legislative intention, we see no error in the order passed by the learned writ Court warranting reconsideration."
The Appellant was not present to substantiate his claims regarding malafide denial of information by the Respondent or for withholding it without any reasonable cause. Moreover, the Commission observed that the framework of the RTI Act, 2005 restricts the jurisdiction of the Commission to provide a ruling on the issues pertaining to access/ right to information and to venture into the merits of a case or redressal of grievance. The Commission in a plethora of decisions including Shri Vikram Singh v. Delhi Police, North East District, CIC/SS/A/2011/001615 dated 17.02.2012 Sh. Triveni Prasad Bahuguna vs. LIC of India, Lucknow CIC/DS/A/2012/000906 dated 06.09.2012, Mr. H. K. Bansal vs. CPIO & GM (OP), MTNL CIC/LS/A/2011/000982/BS/1786 dated 29.01.2013 had held that RTI Act was not the proper law for redressal of grievances/disputes.
The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of Union of India v. Namit Sharma in REVIEW PETITION [C] No.2309 OF 2012 IN Writ Petition [C] No.210 OF 2012 with State of Rajasthan and Anr. vs. Namit Sharma Review Petition [C] No.2675 OF 2012 In Writ Petition [C] No.210 OF 2012 had held as under:
Page 5 of 7"While deciding whether a citizen should or should not get a particular information "which is held by or under the control of any public authority", the Information Commission does not decide a dispute between two or more parties concerning their legal rights other than their right to get information in possession of a public authority. This function obviously is not a judicial function, but an administrative function conferred by the Act on the Information Commissions."
Furthermore, the High Court of Delhi in the matter of Hansi Rawat and Anr. vs. Punjab National Bank and Ors. LPA No.785/2012 dated 11.01.2013 held as under:
"6. The proceedings under the RTI Act do not entail detailed adjudication of the said aspects. The dispute relating to dismissal of the appellant No.2 LPA No.785/2012 from the employment of the respondent Bank is admittedly pending consideration before the appropriate forum. The purport of the RTI Act is to enable the appellants to effectively pursue the said dispute. The question, as to what inference if any is to be drawn from the response of the PIO of the respondent Bank to the RTI application of the appellants, is to be drawn in the said proceedings and as aforesaid the proceedings under the RTI Act cannot be converted into proceedings for adjudication of disputes as to the correctness of the information furnished."
Moreover, in a recent decision in Govt. of NCT vs. Rajendra Prasad WP (C) 10676/2016 dated 30.11.2017, the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi had held as under:
6. The CIC has been constituted under Section 12 of the Act and the powers of CIC are delineated under the Act. The CIC being a statutory body has to act strictly within the confines of the Act and is neither required to nor has the jurisdiction to examine any other controversy or disputes.
7. In the present case, it is apparent that CIC had decided issues which were plainly outside the scope of the jurisdiction of CIC under the Act. The limited scope of examination by the CIC was: (i) whether the information sought for by the respondent was provided to him; (ii) if the same was denied, whether such denial was justified; (iii) whether any punitive action was required to be taken against the concerned PIO; and (iv) whether any directions under Section 19(8) were warranted. In addition, the CIC also exercises powers under Section 18 of the Act and also performs certain other functions as expressly provided under various provisions of the Act including Section 25 of the Act. It is plainly not within the jurisdiction of the CIC to examine the dispute as to whether respondent no.2 was entitled to and was allotted a plot of land under the 20-Point Programme.
A similar view delineating the scope of the Commission's jurisdiction was also taken by the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in Sher Singh Rawat vs. Chief Information Commissioner and Ors., W.P. (C) 5220/2017 and CM No. 22184/2017 dated 29.08.2017 and in the matter of Shobha Vijender vs. Chief Information Commissioner W.P. (C) No. 8289/2016 and CM 34297/2016 dated 29.11.2017.
The Appellant/Complainant was not present to contest the submissions of the Respondent or to establish the larger public interest in disclosure which outweighs the harm to the protected interests.
Page 6 of 7DECISION:
Keeping in view the facts of the case and the submissions made by the Respondent, no further intervention of the Commission is required in the matter. For redressal of his grievance, the Appellant/Complainant is advised to approach an appropriate forum.
The Appeal / Complaint stands disposed accordingly.
Bimal Julka (िबमल जु का)
Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु )
Authenticated true copy
(अ भ मा णत स या पत त)
K.L. Das (के .एल.दास)
Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक)
011-26182598/ [email protected]
दनांक / Date: 14.05.2019
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