ORDER

1. The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 02.10.2023 seeking information as under:

“Provide me copy of all official correspondence received from United India Insurance Company and MD India TPA regarding my Mediclaim CCN: MDI3347286 from 01 April 2017 till date.”

2. Having not received any reply from the CPIO, the Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint dated Nil.

3. The Complainant remained absent during the hearing and on behalf of the Respondent, Vidhya Bhushan, CPIO along with Jasmeet Singh Dua attended the hearing in person.

4. The Respondent submitted that the reply to the RTI Application was provided to the Complainant vide their letter dated 20.11.2023 stating that the information sought for is not readily available and tendered their apology for not having provided any reply within the stipulated time frame of the RTI Act. At the same time, the CPIO expressed his inability to comment on the reasons for the delay caused by the then CPIO, however, assured that upon taking charge, he has ensured timely disposal of the RTI Applications. Further, it was submitted that the Complainant could check the status of his Mediclaim as well as any additional information/documents requested by MDINDIA TPA and could have uploaded the requisite documents himself through MDINDIA online portal itself. Therefore, the information was easily available to him in the public domain. Furthermore, it was explained as under:

“4. It is also to submit that applicant vide his another RTI Application (PASBK/R/E/2023/00209) dated 20.07.2023 had asked for the present status of his claim as well as official receipt of the of the claim. In reply to this, the then CPIO informed him the status of his Mediclaim that as per MDINDI A TPA, the claim is closed. (Reason for the same has also been informed to him that Date of Discharge was on 15.12.2016 & claim documents were received by MDINDIA TPA on 04.07.2017. Queries were raised for insufficient documents on 24.07.2017. However, query related documents were provided on 01.09.2018. There was a delay in submission of documents by 404 days). Also, the copy of official receipt containing stamp impression of MDINDIA dated 04.07.2017 on his claim application dated 12.06.2017 had been provided to him.

5. Appellant filed complaint before Hon'ble Information Commissioner without preferring 1st Appeal before FAA under RTI Act, 2005.

In view of the above-mentioned facts, the undersigned submits that Mediclaim of the appellant was rejected by MDINDIA TPA on account of delayed & insufficient submission of claim documents as well as delayed submission of addition documents requested by MDINDIA TPA. Further, the appellant himself had the access to check for the Query & view status of his claim as well as for uploading/submission of requisite & additional documents. Even the information available has been provided to him by replying to his another applications also as mentioned above.”

5.

The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, and perusal of records, observes that the strength of the material on record or the submissions tendered by the CPIO do not suggest any malafides in the brief delay caused by the Respondent in replying to the instant RTI Application. Moreover, in the absence of the Complainant to plead his case or contest the CPIO’s submissions, the Commission finds no scope of any further action in the matter.

6. The Complaint is disposed of accordingly.

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

(Anandi Ramalingam) ( आनंदी रामिलंगम ) Information Commissioner ( सूचना आयु ) िदनांक/Date: 05.08.2024 Authenticated true copy Col S S Chhikara (Retd) ( कनल एस एस िछकारा , ( "रटायड ) Dy. Registrar ( उप पंजीयक ) 011-26180514 (०११-२६१८०५१८) Addresses of the parties:

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