ORDER

1. The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bhubaneswar seeking following information:-

1. “Copy of the application submitted by the selected candidate vide advertisement dated 09.03.2018.

2. Name and address of the LPG Distributor (Gramin Vitrak) under Indian Oil Corporation Limited who has been selected for Biramal, Podamunda, Sahajbahal under Biramal Gram Panchayat in the district of Bargarh.

3. Copy of application submitted by the LPG Distributor (Gramin Vitrak) under Indian Oil Corporation Limited who has been selected for Biramal, Podamunda, Sahajbahal under Biramal Gram Panchayat in the district of Bargarh.

4. Copy of the land documents submitted for show-room and go-down by the LPG Distributor (Gramin Vitrak) under Indian Oil Corporation Limited who has been selected for Biramal, Podamunda, Sahajbahal under Biramal Gram Panchayat in the district of Bargarh.”

2. The CPIO responded on 28-02-2019. The appellant filed the first appeal dated 27-03-2019 which was not disposed of by the first appellate authority.

Thereafter, he filed a second appeal u/Section 19(3) of the RTI Act before the Commission requesting to take appropriate legal action against the CPIO u/Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005 and also to direct him to provide the sought for information.

Hearing:

3. The appellant, Mr. Azad Sharma attended the hearing through video conferencing. Mr. Vidyut Saha, AGM participated in the hearing representing the respondent through video conferencing. The written submissions are taken on record.

4. The appellant requested for supplying the documents submitted by the selected candidate, Smt. Rosy Bhoi.

5. The respondent submitted that they have already informed the appellant about the name & address of the selected candidate for the LPG distributorship vide their letter dated 28-02-2019. However, they have claimed exemption u/Section 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act, 2005 in respect of the documents submitted by the selected candidate, Smt. Rosy Bhoi. The given reply was also read out by the respondent.

Decision:

6. This Commission observes that the documents submitted by Smt. Rosy Bhoi for the dealership of IOCL is personal in nature exempted u/Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005, disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest and it would cause unwarranted invasion of his privacy if disclosed. Therefore, it cannot be shared with the appellant in the absence of any larger public interest in the matter.

7. With the above observations, the appeal is disposed of.

8. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.