O R D E R

(01.09.2022)

1. The issue under consideration arising out of the second appeal dated Nil include non-receipt of the following information sought by the appellant through the RTI application dated 06.09.2020 and first appeal dated 18.10.2020:-

(cid:1) A project of development of Rural Self Employment Training Institute at Nagaur, Distt. Nagaur, Rajasthan is being developed by UCO Bank. The bank had appointed Pahwa Arch Tech Services to provide Architectural Consultancy Services. In this connection provide following information and documents:-

(i) Copy of note sheet showing approval of competent authority conveying approval for appointment of Pahwa Arch Tech Services as Architect for appointment as Architect as communicated by letter No. ZOA/GAD/2015-16/83 dated 20.01.2016.

(ii) Copy of note sheet and approval of competent authority leading to issue of letter No. ZOA/GAD/2017-18/Misc/132 dated 16.12.2017, communicating various changes in the drawing and asking Pahwa Arch Tech Services to submit the revised cost and revised fee. The copy of technical appraisal provided by technical person to make the changes as suggested by UCO Bank in above letter.

(iii) Copy of note sheet and decision taken by competent authority on the letter submitted by Pahwa Arch Tech Services dated 20.12.2017 in response to letter of UCO Bank dated 16.12.2017 as referred to in para 2 above.

(iv) Copy of vetting report by Rajasthan Technical University received on mail on

23.03.2018 at 4:43 PM and copy of the note sheet and remarks/ approval of competent authority on the response sheet by M/s Pahwa Arch Tech Services sent by mail to zoajmer.gad@ucobank.co.in on 20.12.2017.

(v) Copy of note sheet leading to issue of letter no. ZO/GAD/2017-18/Misc/144 dated 23.02.2018 asking M/s Pahwa Arch Tech Services to provide estimate of boundary wall and copy of processing sheet/remarks of competent authority on the letter sent by Pahwa Arch Tech Services dated 19.03.2018 and copy of approval of Head Office of UCO Bank.

(vi) Subsequent to visit of Sri Tarun Sen, Engineer on 05.08.2017 a letter no.

HO/GAD/MM/1596/2017-18 dated 19.08.2017 was issued by HO to ZO of UCO Bank. The details of changes made as a result of above letter of HO and approval of competent authority for the same may be provided. In the letter dated 19.08.2017 vide Para E (2) HO had asked the ZO to intimate the completion time of work as per RFP. The decision taken by competent authority on above direction of HO may be provided.

(vii) Pahwa Arch Tech Services vide letter dated 29.08.2017 submitted the revised layout as per instructions of HO letter dated 19.08.2017. The copy of note sheet processing the above letter and approval of competent authority for revised layout may be provided.

2. Succinctly facts of the case are that the appellant filed an application dated 06.09.2020 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), UCO Bank, Ajmer, seeking aforesaid information. The CPIO vide letter dated 19.09.2020 replied to the appellant. Aggrieved by the same, the appellant filed first appeal dated 18.10.2020. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) vide order dated 22.10.2020 disposed of the first appeal. Aggrieved by that, the appellant filed second appeal dated Nil before the Commission which is under consideration.

3. The appellant has filed the instant appeal dated Nil 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 19.09.2020 and the same is reproduced as under:-

“The information sought by you from points 1 to 7 cannot be provided as per RTI Act 2005, Section 8 (1) (e).”

The FAA vide order dated 22.10.2020 stated that the information sought by the appellant could not be provided under Section 8 (1) (e) of RTI Act.

5. The appellant pr