Central Information Commission
Saurabh Jain vs Office Of The Additional Distt. ... on 3 January, 2019
के न्द्रीयसूचनाआयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबागंगनाथमागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नईदिल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
नितीय अपील संख्या / Second Appeal No.CIC/ADDDM/A/2017/128608
Mr. Saurabh Jain, ....अपीलकताग/Appellant
House No.-85, GajuuKatra,
Bara Bazaar, Shahdara,Delhi-110032
Through: None
VERSUS
बनाम
1. Public Information Officer,
O/o. the DeputyCommissioner-(N/E), .... प्रनतवािीगण /Respondent
(Governmentof NCT of Delhi),
North-EastDistrict, D.C.
OfficeComplex, NandNagri,Opp.Gagan
Cinema, Delhi-110093
2. Public Information Officer,
Treasury Officer/PIO,
O/o. the Divisional Commissioner
(Government of NCT of Delhi),
Delhi Treasury-Delhi, Tis Hazari,
Delhi-110054
3. Public Information Officer,
Nodal Officer-RTI Section,
O/o. the Divisional Commissioner
(Government of NCT of Delhi),
5, Sham Nath Marg, Delhi-110054
4. Public Information Officer,
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Seelampur),
(Government of NCT of Delhi),
North-East District, O/o. the District
Magistrate, G.T. Road, Seelampur,
Delhi-110053
Through:- Sh. Anil Sirohi - SDM,
Seelampur; Sh. Rohit Pal - DEO/APIO;
Sh. Rajiv Kumar- Treasury Officer
Date of Hearing : 31.12.2018
Date of Decision : 03.01.2019
Information Commissioner : Shri BimalJulka
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 16.12.2016
PIO replied on : 27.12.2016
First Appeal filed on : 20.01.2017
First Appellate Order on : 13.02.2017
2ndAppeal/complaint received on : 02.05.2017
Information soughtand background of the case:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 16.12.2016seeking information against six questions relating to names, addresses and license numbers of Stamp Vendors and various records relating to sale of Non Judicial Stamp papers by such Licensed Stamp Vendors at Seelampur Court.
CPIO/Treasury officer vide reply dated 27.12.2016 furnished information as under:
Sr. Information No.
1 to 6 As per record, the stamp paper bearing sr. no. AC-058016 of value Rs.
50/- and 51AA-842615 of Rs. 10/- has been issued on 16.10.12 & 14.08.12 accordingly by Delhi Treasury to Bhagirath Prasad Verma, stamp vendor, license no. 104, vending place SeelamPur. Further, Stamp vendors submit their sale register showing sale of stamp paper to public to the Area S.D.M/Collector of Stamp under whose jurisdiction they are working i.e. Distt. North-East (NandNagri) and for other information your application is being forwarded to the concerned PIO for providing the necessary information.
Meanwhile, the Appellant had filed First Appeal dated 20.01.2017, on non receipt of reply from the PIO, till then.
The FAA/AD(NE), Sh. M K Dwivedi vide order dated 13.02.2017 decided the First Appeal directing the PIO/SDM-Seelampurto provide informationas sought by the Appellant within 15 days.
In compliance with the FAA's directions, the CPIO vide reply dated 23.02.2017 furnished a response, but no fresh information other than the PIO's reply was provided. Hence, aggrieved with the conduct of the Respondent, the Appellant filed the instant Second Appealbefore the Commission.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Respondent alone has appeared to the exclusion of the Appellant. Respondent has stated that complete information from available records/registers of SeemaPuri have been provided to the Appellant. Respondent has also volunteered to provide inspection of all records available in their official custody. The DM HQ is responsible for governing and monitoring the data about the licensed vendors. It has further been informed by the Respondent that the entire system of issuance of stamp paper has now become digitized since 1st April 2008 and the e-stamp papers are available through online application. The entire work related to e-stamping has been awarded to M/s Stock Holding Corporation Ltd., a public sector undertaking.It has further been averred that the District Magistrate of Delhi who is also the Secretary-Revenue and Inspector General of Registration is responsible for governing of the rules framed under the Indian Stamp Act and the Indian Registration Act, duly assisted by one Deputy Commissioner and one Additional District Magistrate. Sub-Divisional Magistrates, heading the sub-zones, function under the Deputy Commissioner and enjoy the powers of Collector of Stamps and the office of the Sub-Registrar functions directly under the control of the Deputy Commissioner. One treasury for the National Capital Territory of Delhi is responsible for procurement and issuance of both judicial and non-judicial stamps/stamp paper. The entire work of e-stamping has been awarded to M/s Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited, a public sector undertaking. Respondent has additionally placed on record one whole set of documents, including a document dated 23.02.2017, vide which the Respondent/PIO- SDM(Seelampur) claimed to have provided complete information to the Appellant.
Appellant was not present during the hearing.
Decision In the light of the foregoing submissions of the Respondent and on perusal of records as submitted by the Appellant, the Commission is of the considered opinion that the query of the Appellant is one which pertains to larger public interest. Moreover, since the process of e-stamping is already operational, it is all the more necessary that complete information about names, license numbers of the Licensed Stamp Vendor, serial number of the non judicial stamp papers sold by such Vendor, date of sale and name of buyer of the stamp paper etc. are maintained in a methodical manner in terms of the provisions of the Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, in the larger public interest. Accordingly, it is directed that Respondent shall take appropriate steps to sensitise the M/s Stock Holding Corporation, to disseminate such information about the Licensed Vendors, transactions pertaining to Non Judicial stamp papers sold by the vendors as also the process of issuance of e-stamp for awareness of the public in general.
The appeal is disposed of with the above directions.
(Bimal Julka) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्त) Authenticated true copy (अनिप्रमानणत सत्यानपत प्रनत) Ram Parkash Grover Dy. Registrar 011-26180514 / राम प्रकाश ग्रोवर, उप-पंजीयक