Central Information Commission
Rahul M. Bankar vs Department Of Bio-Technology on 17 April, 2026
CIC/DBTEC/A/2025/604038
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. CIC/DBTEC/A/2025/604038
Rahul M. Bankar ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: Ministry of Science &
Technology, New Delhi ... ितवादीगण/Respondents
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI : 06.09.2024 FA : 01.10.2024 SA : 22.01.2025
CPIO : 01.10.2024 FAO : 25.10.2024 Hearing : 13.04.2026
Date of Decision: 13.04.2026
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
Shri P R Ramesh
ORDER
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 06.09.2024 seeking information on the following points:
1. "..Please provide copies of office Memorandum, noting/correspondence regarding implementation of Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) payment to Veterinary qualification Le. B.V.Sc & A.H./M.V.Sc posts in Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
2. Please provide copies of office Memorandum, noting/correspondence regarding implementation of Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) payment to Page 1 of 6 CIC/DBTEC/A/2025/604038 Veterinary qualification i.e. B.V.Sc & A.H./M.V.Sc posts in all Autonomous institutes of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India.
3. Please provide list/ Names of Autonomous Institutes of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India, wherein Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) payment to Veterinary qualification i.e. B.V.Sc B. A. H. /M.V.Sc posts is implemented.
4. Please provide office memorandum/circular/noting wherein Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) payment to Veterinary qualification i.e. B.V.Sc & A. H. / M.V.Sc posts in Autonomous Institutes of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India, is approved by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Govt. of India..."
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 01.10.2024 and the same is reproduced as under:-
"..The grant of Non practicing allowance is restricted to only Medical posts vide Department of Expenditure's OM No.12-2/2016-EIII.A dated 07.07.2017.
There is no medical/clinical posts in Department of Biotechnology (Main Sectt) and hence no such provision for grant of Non practicing allowance to any employee of Department of Biotechnology..."
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 01.10.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 25.10.2024 observed as under:-
"...4. And whereas the RTI application dated 06.09.2024 was not transferred to the CPIO concerned for Autonomous Institutes of Department of Biotechnology.Page 2 of 6
CIC/DBTEC/A/2025/604038
5. And whereas in response to the RTI appeal dated 01.10.2024, the inputs of the CPIO concerned for Autonomous Institutes of Department of Biotechnology have been obtained, and the same are as under:
"It is stated that there are 15 Autonomous Institutes under DBT & only one Institute i.e. National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, wherein NPA payment to Veterinary qualification i.e. B.V. Sc & A.H./ M.V. Sc posts is implemented. Copies of Noting & OM are enclosed."
6. Accordingly this appeal is disposed of..."
4. Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 22.01.2025 Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Appellant: Present through video-conference.
Respondent: Shri Prashant Rana, CPIO and Shri Ravi Kumar, Section Officer- participated in the hearing.
5. The Appellant inter alia submitted that the relevant information has not been provided by the PIO till date. He averred that he had sought information related to implementation of Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) payment to Veterinary qualification i.e. B.V.Sc & A. H. /M.V.Sc posts in autonomous institutes under the administrative control of department of biotechnology and matters related thereto. He averred that complete and clear information in this regard has not been provided by the PIO till date.
6. The Respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the relevant information has been duly provided to the Appellant. NCCS have stopped payment of NPA on the basis of Office Memorandum No. Dir (PK)/CVO/DBT/2017/Vig dated 08.09.2017 of Deptt. of Biotechnology. They averred that implementation of NPA has been notified in RR of NCCS. However, as Page 3 of 6 CIC/DBTEC/A/2025/604038 per OM dated 08.09.2017 for implementation of NPA a proposal/request has to be submitted by the institute regarding implementation of NPA, but no such request/proposal has been received from the institute i.e. NCCS till date. A written submission in this regard has been received from the CPIO and same has been taken on record for perusal. The relevant extract whereof is as under:
"..This is with reference to CIC Communication No. CIC/DBTEC/A/2025/604038 dated 16-03-2026 regarding the Second Appeal scheduled to be held on 13-04-2026, the following point-wise information is submitted to address the appellant's concerns regarding the implementation of Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) for Veterinary qualifications in Autonomous Institutes under the administrative control of Department of Biotechnology (DBT):
1. Reply dated 01.10.2024 provided by Est. Section.
2. DBT Om dated 08.09.2017 (copy attached).
3. The RRs of following Als of DBT have provision of NPA:
1.THSTI
2. NIAB
3.CDFD
4.NBRC
5.ILS(stopped since 2017)
6.NCCS(stopped since 2017) ILS and NCCS have stopped payment of NPA on the basis of Office Memorandum Page 4 of 6 CIC/DBTEC/A/2025/604038 No.Dir (PK)/CVO/DBT/2017/Vig dated 08.09.2017 of Deptt. of Biotechnology.
4. Copies of noting and following is as follows:
1.THSTI(Noting, Relevant RR portion- Annexure-1)
2.NIAB(already provided vide FAA, Establishment, DBT's order dated 25.10.2024)
3.CDFD(Noting, Relevant RR portion-Annexure-II)
4.NBRC(Noting, Relevant RR portion-Annexure-III)
5.ILS(Noting-, Relevant RR portion-Annexure-IV)
6.NCCS(Noting-, Relevant RR portion-Annexure-V).."
Decision:
7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both parties and perusal of records, observes that the Appellant, vide RTI application dated 06.09.2024, sought copies of office memoranda, notings and correspondence regarding implementation of Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) to Veterinary qualification posts in the Department of Biotechnology and its Autonomous Institutes, along with the list of such institutes where NPA is implemented and relevant approval documents. Commission observes that while the initial reply of the CPIO was incomplete, the deficiency was substantially addressed at the appellate stage and further clarified during the hearing by furnishing relevant records. It is observed that available information has been provided and no legal infirmity is found in the response furnished by the Respondent. It is noted that the Appellant's queries had been appropriately answered by concerned PIO. Furthermore, written submission filed by the Respondent is comprehensive and self-explanatory. Thus, information as permissible under the Page 5 of 6 CIC/DBTEC/A/2025/604038 provisions of the RTI Act has been duly furnished to the Appellant. In the given circumstances, no further intervention of the Commission is warranted in this case under the RTI Act. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
(P R Ramesh) (पी. आर. रमेश) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy Vivek Agarwal (िववेक अ वाल) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26107048 Addresses of the parties:
1 The CPIO Under Secretary & CPIO, Ministry of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Block-2, 8th Floor, C.G.O. Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003.
2 Rahul M. Bankar Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
Nil Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)