JUDGMENT

Prathiba M. Singh, J. - This hearing has been done through video conferencing.

2. The present petition has been filed by two officers, who were working with the Union Bank of India as Central Public Information Officers (hereinafter, "CPIO), as also the Union Bank itself, challenging the impugned order dated 14th December, 2020 passed by the Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission (hereinafter, "CIC"), vide which, penalties amounting to Rs. 10,000/- each have been imposed upon the Petitioners.

3. The background of this case is that an RTI application was filed on 9th January, 2018, by the Applicant/Respondent No.2 (hereinafter, "Applicant") who was a Chief Manager at the Union Bank of India, seeking the following information:

"In this connection I request you to furnish me details of the Board approval along with justification for giving exemption with regard to 3 years branch head service (which was declared vide staff circular no: 6511 dated 23.12.2016)."

4. In reply to the said RTI application, the office of the CPIO informed the Applicant that copy of