Central Information Commission
Ravinderjit Jingh vs Northern Railway Firozpur on 3 March, 2026
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/NRALF/A/2024/634094
Ravinderjit Singh .....अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
C.P.I.O,
Northern Railway
O/o the Divisional Railway Manager,
Railway Station Road,
Cnatonment Area, Firozpur,
Punjab - 152 001 .... ितवादी/Respondent
Date of Hearing : 03-03-2026
Date of Decision : 03-03-2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Swagat Das
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 29-05-2024
CPIO replied on : 11-06-2024
First appeal filed on : 30-06-2024
First Appellate Authority's order : 01-08-2024
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 08-08-2024
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 29-05-2024 seeking the following information:
"1. Please provide a copy and action taken detail and where above of file whose e office file no. NR-FZROSnT(MISC)/19/2022-O/o SSE/TELE/JUC/NR & Computer no. E 153057 With subject ACRs of Sh. Ravinderjit Singh for the year of 2018-19
2. Please provide a copy and action taken detail and where above of file whose e office file no. NR-FZROSnT(MISC)/18/2022-O/o CIC/NRALF/A/2024/634094 Page 1 of 5 SSE/TELE/JUC/NR & Computer no. E 153053 With subject ACRs of Sh. Ravinderjit Singh for the year of 2017-18"
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 11-06-2024 stating as under:
"Reply :- 1.Currently file pending with Smt. Anu Kanojia OS/P-3.
2. Currently file pending with Sh. Pankaj Kumar Sr. Clerk/P-3."
3. The Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 30-06-2024. The F.A.A upheld the reply of CPIO vide order dated 01-08-2024.
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through Video-Conference.
Respondent: Shri Sandeep Goyal, DSTE & APIO present through Video- Conference.
5. Proof of having served a copy of Second Appeal on Respondent while filing the same in CIC on 08.08.2024 is not available on record. Respondent confirms non-service.
6. Written submissions of the Respondent are taken on record.
7. The Appellant, during the hearing, reiterated the contents of the RTI application and instant appeal and submitted that till date information has not been provided to him by the Respondent. He stated that he has filed a representation in e-office for improvement in his ACR, but no action taken on his representation was informed by the Respondent Public Authority from last two years.
8. The Respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the file of the Appellant still shows pending with the Personnel department. They have asked the concerned official to attend the CIC hearing and to inform the updated status in the hearing. But none is present from the concerned department. Upon being queried by the Commission, the CIC/NRALF/A/2024/634094 Page 2 of 5 Respondent submitted that Shri Pankaj Kumar, OS to whom the file of the Appellant shows pending and Sr. DPO and ADRM are the concerned officials/authority who has to deal with the representation of the Appellant.
Decision:
9. Upon perusal of records and submissions made during hearing, the Commission observes that the Appellant had sought specific and identifiable information in his RTI application. The CPIO's reply merely stating that the file is "pending" with certain officials does not constitute a proper reply under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. The CPIO is under statutory obligation to either provide the information sought or deny the same citing specific exemption provisions under the Act. An interim or status reply without furnishing the requested documents cannot be treated as compliance with the provisions of the RTI Act.
10. The Commission further notes with serious concern that the Appellant's representation for improvement of ACR has allegedly remained pending for nearly two years. Public authorities cannot indefinitely sit over representations of employees. Administrative matters, including representations relating to ACRs, are governed by prescribed timelines and require expeditious disposal.
11. Under Section 5(4) and 5(5) of the RTI Act, any officer whose assistance is sought for furnishing information shall be treated as "deemed PIO"
and is equally responsible for ensuring compliance.
12. In the instant case, Sh. Pankaj Kumar (OS), along with the concerned Sr. DPO and ADRM dealing with the file, are to be treated as deemed PIOs for the purpose of furnishing the complete and correct information.
13. The Commission finds that there has been clear deficiency in providing information and lack of administrative diligence in addressing the Appellant's representation.
14. In view of the above, the Commission directs the PIO to provide complete information to the Appellant as per his RTI application and should clearly indicate the present status of the Appellant's CIC/NRALF/A/2024/634094 Page 3 of 5 representation. If the representation has not been decided, specify reasons for delay and the officer responsible for the same.
15. The above information shall be provided to the Appellant within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of this order, free of cost.
16. Sh. Pankaj Kumar (OS), Sr. DPO and the concerned ADRM, being the officers dealing with the matter, are treated as deemed PIOs in this case. They shall ensure that the required information is compiled and furnished within the stipulated time.
17. A compliance report shall be submitted to the Commission within the above time period.
18. The FAA is directed to ensure compliance of this order and to serve a copy of this order to above mentioned officials for its compliance.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Sd/-
Swagat Das ( ागत दास) Information Commissioner (सू चना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) (Archana Srivastva) Dy. Registrar 011 - 2610 7040 Date Copy To:
The First Appellate Authority, Northern Railway O/o the Divisional Railway Manager, Railway Station Road, Cnatonment Area, Firozpur, Punjab - 152 001 CIC/NRALF/A/2024/634094 Page 4 of 5 Ravinderjit Singh H.No. 492, Mohan Vihar, Ladhewali, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 007 CIC/NRALF/A/2024/634094 Page 5 of 5 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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