Central Information Commission
Rameswaram Katta vs Central Board Of Secondary Education on 18 August, 2022
CIC/CBSED/A/2021/617600
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या/ Second Appeal No. CIC/CBSED/A/2021/617600
In the matter of:
Rameswaram Katta ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO, ... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Central Board Of Secondary
Education,"Shiksha Kendra",
2, Community Centre,
Preet Vihar, Delhi - 110092
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI Application filed on : 24.02.2021
CPIO replied on : 26.03.2021
First Appeal filed on : 26.03.2021
First Appellate Authority order : 11.05.2021
Second Appeal received on : 12.05.2021
Date of Hearing : 03.08.2022
The following were present:
Appellant: Absent (Despite being served the hearing notice)
Respondent: Smt. Seema Khakha, CPIO & Assistant Secretary
(Affiliation), Central Board of Secondary Education, participated in the
hearing in person
Page 1 of 6
CIC/CBSED/A/2021/617600
ORDER
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an online RTI Application dated 24.02.2021 seeking information on the following two points:
The CPIO vide online reply dated 26.03.2021, informed to the Appellant as under:
Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 26.03.2021. The First Appellate Authority vide order dated 11.05.2021, informed as under:Page 2 of 6
CIC/CBSED/A/2021/617600 Grounds for Second Appeal:
The Appellant filed a Second Appeal u/s 19 of the Act on the ground of unsatisfactory reply furnished by the Respondent. Appellant requested the Commission to direct the CPIO to provide complete information sought for.
Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
The Appellant did not participate in the hearing despite being served the hearing notice.Page 3 of 6
CIC/CBSED/A/2021/617600 The Respondent submitted that adequate information as available has been furnished to the Appellant vide online reply dated 26.03.2021 and further the same has been upheld by the First Appellate Authority vide its order dated 11.05.2021.
The Commission remarked that though the number of schools in Tamil Nadu region is 215 but the number of schools upon whom the show cause notice has been served would be limited. Further, the information relating to schools upon whom the CBSE has served show cause notices, serves larger public interest, therefore the same shall be provided to the Appellant and the Respondent concurred with the above remark of the Commission and agreed to furnish the requisite information as available on record to the Appellant.
A written submission has been received by the Commission from Smt. Seema Khakha, CPIO, Central Board of Secondary Education, vide letter dated 29.07.2022, and the same has been marked to the Appellant wherein the Commission has been apprised as under:
Page 4 of 6CIC/CBSED/A/2021/617600 Decision:
Upon perusal of the facts on record as well as on the basis of the proceedings during the hearing, the Commission observes that though the Respondent has furnished a reply to the Appellant but the same is not up to the mark. The Commission further observes that, the information sought serves larger public interest therefore, in order to keep the spirit of RTI Act alive and maintain transparency in the system, the Commission deems it fit to direct the Respondent to furnish the requisite information to the Appellant as available on the records of Respondent Public Authority within a time frame of 45 days from the date of receipt of this order. In the event Respondent is required to seek further assistance from any other office/officer for compliance with the above directions, the same shall be sought under Section 5(4) of RTI Act.
With the above observations, the instant Second Appeal is disposed of. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
The Appeal, hereby, stands disposed of.
Amita Pandove (अिमता पांडव) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) िदनां क / Date: 18.08.2022 Page 5 of 6 CIC/CBSED/A/2021/617600 Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) B. S. Kasana (बी. एस. कसाना) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26105027 Addresses of the parties:
1. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) Central Board of Secondary Education, "Shiksha Kendra", 2, Community Centre, Preet Vihar, Delhi - 110092
2. The Central Public Information Officer Central Board of Secondary Education, "Shiksha Kendra", 2, Community Centre, Preet Vihar, Delhi - 110092
3. Mr. Rameswaram Katta Page 6 of 6