Central Information Commission
Jayaram Venkatesan vs Ministry Of Personnel, Public ... on 12 January, 2023
Author: Saroj Punhani
Bench: Saroj Punhani
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबागंगनाथमाग , मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No : CIC/MPERS/A/2021/119386
Jayaram Venkatesan ......अपीलकता /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO,
Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances & Pensions,
Department of Personnel &
Training, RTI Cell, North
Block, New Delhi-110001. .... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 11/01/2023
Date of Decision : 11/01/2023
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Saroj Punhani
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 07/12/2020
CPIO replied on : 29/12/2020
First appeal filed on : 16/01/2021
First Appellate Authority's order : 01/02/2021
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 05/05/2021
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 07.12.2020 seeking the following information:
1) "Provide the list of empaneled suppliers for fortified RBD palmolein oil and sugar to Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) from January 2017 upto November 2020.1
2) Provide the list of suppliers from whom fortified RBD Palmolein oil/ sugar procured for supply of TNCSC, and the quantity procured from each supplier for the following TNCSC tenders.
• COM1/028000/2019 • BS3-07575-2018 • BS3-11950-2018 • BS3-018158-2018 • BS3-023220-2018 • BS3-33280-2018 • BS3-36366-2018 • BS3-40941-2018 • BS3-047300-2018 • BS3-000999-2019 • BS3-011976-2019 • BS3-018910-2019 • BS3-022555-2019 • BS3-044704-2019
3) Provide copy of the Expression of Interest/ Notice issued for the empanelment of suppliers forfeited RBD palmolein oil/sugar for supply to TNCSC from January 2018 upto July 2020.
4) Provide copy of the notice inviting competitive price for back to back supply/trade margin quotes from EOI empaneled parties for the fortified RBD palmolein oil/sugar for the following TNCSC tenders. • NIT No. COM1/028000/2019 • BS3-07575-2018 • BS3-018158-2018 • BS3-023220-2018 • BS3-33280-2018 • BS3-36366-2018 • BS3-40941-2018 • BS3-047300-2018 • BS3-000999-2019 • BS3-011976-2019 • BS3-018910-2019 • BS3-022555-2019 • BS3-044704-2019
5) Provide a list of Suppliers who submitted trade margin quotes for the following TNCSC tender numbers. • NIT No. COM1/028000/2019 • BS3-07575-2018 2 • BS3-11950-2018 • BS3-018158-2018 • BS3-023220-2018 • BS3-33280-2018 • BS3-36366-2018 • BS3-40941-2018 • BS3-047300-2018 • BS3-000999-2019 • BS3-011976-2019 • BS3-011976-2019 • BS3-018910-2019 • BS3-022555-2019 • BS3-044704-2019
6) Provide a copy of the procurement policies of Kendriya Bhandar for the procurement/ empanelment of suppliers for Palm Oil and sugar"
The authorized signatory of the Respondent furnished a reply to the appellant on 29.12.2020 stating as under :
"It is intimated that "in view of the Supreme Court Judgement dated 7th October 2013 in the case of Civil Appeal No. 9017 of 2013 (arising out of SLP (C) No. 24290 of 2012) between Thalappalam Ser. Cooperative Bank Ltd and others versus State of Kerala and others with Civil Appeal Nos. 9020, 9029 & 9023 of 2013 (arising out of SLP (C) NO. 24291 OF 2012, 13796AND 13797 OF 2013), Kendriya Bhandar does not fall within the purview of the RTI Act and hence, the provision of the RTI Act, 2005 is no longer applicable on Kendriya Bhandar."
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 16.01.2021. OSD(Vig.) vide a letter dated 01.02.2021, held as under:
"I am directed to refer to your First Appeal under section 19(1) of RTI 2005 letter dated 16.1.2021 against Kendriya Bhandar, Chennai letter No. KB/GHE/REP/2020-2L dated 29.12.2020 and to say that a writ petition No. WP(C)11475 of 2016, in the matter of Kendriya Bhandar Vs. R.K. Jain & Ors. is pending before Hon'ble High Court of Delhi to determine whether Kendriya Bhandar is a Public Authority or not. The matter is still pending for a decision before the Hon'ble High court of Delhi. As such the desired information cannot be provided to the applicant."
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, the appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
3Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through video conference. Respondent: Pawan Kumar, US & CPIO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions along with Brij Choudhary, Kendriya Bhandar present in person.
The Appellant stated at length that the reliance placed by the Kendriya Bhandar on the pending writ petition before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court is not relevant to the instant case.
Brij Choudhary, Kendriya Bhandar invited the attention of the bench to their reply of 01.02.2021, wherein the Appellant was informed that 'WP(C)11475 of 2016, in the matter of Kendriya Bhandar Vs. R.K. Jain & Ors. is pending before Hon'ble High Court of Delhi to determine whether Kendriya Bhandar is a Public Authority or not.' He further informed that the next hearing in the averred case is in July, 2023.
Decision:
The Commission having taken note of the pending status of W.P(C)11475 of 2016 in the matter of Kendriya Bhandar Vs. R.K. Jain & Ors before the Hon'ble Delhi High for determining the amenability of Kendriya Bhandar to the provisions of the RTI Act is not in a position to appreciate the contentions of the Appellant.
The appeal is hereby treated as closed.
Saroj Punhani (सरोज पुनहािन) हािन) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स#यािपत ित) (C.A. Joseph) Dy. Registrar 011-26179548/ [email protected] सी. ए. जोसेफ, उप-पंजीयक दनांक / 4