O R D E R

(20.06.2023)

1. The issue under consideration arising out of the second appeal dated 17.09.2021 include non-receipt of the following information sought by the appellant through the RTI application dated 10.08.2021and first appeal dated 11.08.2021:- a) Inform whether the PPO related to pension of Rs. 29900.00 received in account No **********4180 of Kanta Pandya through NEFT is deposited in respondent Branch.

b) Inform the latest PPO number in respect of freedom fighter pension drawn through account No **********4180 of Kanta Pandya whose PPO has been deposited with bank.

c) Inform that up till now as to how many times the latest PPO number in respect of freedom Fighter pension drawn through account No **********4180 of Kanta Pandya whose PPO has been demanded by him and Bank had failed to provide the same.

d) Inform that up till now how many times the address updation request as per the address mentioned in Aadhar along with Aadhar in respect of account No **********4180 of Kanta Pandya has been sent to the Bank through mail and registered post.

e) Inform the reason for not updating address in account No **********4180 of Kanta Pandya as per Aadhar linked in account and copy provided to Bank through email and registered post.

f) Inform that uptill now how many times request for issue of ATM is made in account No **********4180 of Kanta Pandya through mail and registered post.

g) Inform the reason for not issuing ATM in account No **********4180 of Kanta Pandya inspite of request done through mail and registered post etc. through 19 points.

2. Succinctly facts of the case are that the appellant filed an application dated 10.08.2021 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Punjab National Bank, Agra, seeking aforesaid information. The CPIO vide letter dated 11.08.2021 replied to the appellant. Aggrievedby the same, the appellant filed first appeal dated 11.08.2021. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) vide order dated 30.08.2021 disposed of the first appeal. Aggrieved bythat, the appellant filed second appeal dated 17.09.2021 before the Commission which is under consideration.

3. The appellant has filed the instant appeal dated 17.09.2021 inter alia on the grounds that reply given by the CPIO was not satisfactory. The appellant requested the Commission to direct the CPIO to provide the complete information and take necessary action as per Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act.

4. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 11.08.2021stated that the account no. **********4180) did not exist, and no other detail was given like Branch detail (IFSC Code)/Circle Name; and returned the application. The FAA vide order dated 30.08.2021 and the same is reproduced as under:- “I have perused the RTI application, since correct details were not provided by the appellant in his RTI application, his RTI application was returned by CPIO. The appellant in his appeal has provided the desired details related to his account. Therefore, the CPIO is hereby directed to furnish the desired information to the appellant within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order.”

5. The appellant’s representative and son Shri Davendra Nath Pandya attended the hearing in person and on behalf of the respondent Shri LalaramMaurya, CPIO and Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh, Law Manager, Punjab National Bank, Agra attended the hearing through video conference.

5.1. The appellant’s representativeinter alia submitted that the appellant was a 96-year old Freedom Fighter family pensioner and the bank every now and then withheld her pension on one or other pretext. He further pleaded that there were two Pension Payment Orders and pension was paid alternatively through one of the PPOs. Therefore, they had filed RTI application seeking the information regarding crediting of pension amount in the appellant’s account no. xxxxx4180.

5.2. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the appellant had inter alia sought q