Central Information Commission
Mra Vani vs Ministry Of Statistics & Programme ... on 25 April, 2014
Central Information Commission
Room No.307, II Floor, B Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New
Delhi110066
websitecic.gov.in
Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2013/001027/MP
Appellant : Ms. Vani Arumainathan,
Banglore
Public Authority : Ministry of Statistics &
Programme Implementation,
Banglore/Kolkata
Date of Hearing : 25 April 2014
Date of Decision : 25 April 2014
Facts:
1. The appellant, Ms. Vani Arumainathan, submitted RTI application dated 12 March 2013 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), O/o Deputy Director, General, NSSO, Bangalore, seeking information regarding her PF Account statement and other details regarding Shri S. K. Dass, Director, HO, Kolkata and Shri Sivasubramanium, Director, NSSO, DPC, Bangalore and on other points through a total of 11 points.
2. Vide reply dated 5 April 2013, CPIO informed the appellant on point nos. 1& 11 that these points had been forwarded to the Pay & Account Officer, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Nagpur, furnished information on point nos. 2 & 3 and denied information on point nos. 4 to 10 on the ground that the requested information did not fall under definition of 'information' as defined u/s 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005. Not satisfied with the CPIO's reply, the appellant preferred appeal dated 16 April 2013 to the first appellate authority (FAA). Vide order dated 10 May 2013, FAA upheld the CPIO's decision on point nos. 4 to 10. However, he also furnished addition information on these points.
3. Not satisfied with the response of the public authority, the appellant preferred second appeal before the Commission alleging that the FAA did not furnish her satisfactory information on points 4 to 10.
4. The matter was heard today via videoconferencing. The appellant, Ms. Vani Arumainathan, was present along with Shri Balachandran, Advocate, who made submissions from Bangalore and submitted appellant's authorisation letter to the CPIO. The respondents, Shri Unnikrishnan, CPIO, Shri Krishnamurthy Maiya, Director, NSSO and Shri Sivaram Raju, Deputy Director were also present at Bangalore. Shri Malik, FAA (Data Processing Centre), Shri S.K. Das, Head of Department (Admn) and Shri Satya Jeet Paul, Director (Admn) made submissions from Kolkata.
5. The appellant reiterated her query and submitted that it is not clear as to whether Shri S. K. Dass was functional /non functional Director in the public authority in January 2006. No information had been provided with regard to the basis on which three posts of Data Entry Operators (DEOs) were automatically converted into Data Processing Assistants (DPAs) for recruitment in 1996 by the public authority and added that the respondent had three vacancies of DEOs. She also submitted that the respondent should provide the instructions/guidelines for conversion of DEOs posts into DPAs.
6. The CPIO submitted that they had given a clear reply on whether Shri S.K. Das was a functional Director and that they do not have the three vacancies of DEOs because of the automatic conversion of these posts into Data Processing Assistants at the time of special dispensation in the year 1999 to recruit some more Data Processing Assistants. He, however, submitted that they will try to find if any record relating to conversion of the posts to DPA is available with them.
Decision Notice
7. The Commission directs the CPIO to trace if any order had been issued, vide which 3 posts of Data Entry Operator were automatically converted into Data Processing Assistant for recruitment in 1996 by the public authority or any guidelines are available on this subject and if available, provide the same to the appellant within 2 weeks of the receipt of the order of the Commission.
(Manjula Prasher) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy:
(T.K. Mohapatra) Dy. Secretary & Dy. Registrar Tele.No. 01126105027 Copy to:
Central Public Information Officer Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, National Sample Survey Organisation, Zonal Office, South Zone, BWing, 2nd Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bangalore560034.
First Appellate Authority Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, National Sample Survey Organisation, Data Processing Division Hqrs., Mahalanobis Bhavan, 164, GLT Road, Kolkata 700018.
Smt. A. Vani, No.8/2/21, NR Layout, Roopena Agrahara, Virat Nagar, Bommanahalli, Bangalore560088