Information sought under RTI regarding third parties is exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, but affected parties may receive relevant information.

Headnote:(A) Right to Information Act, 2005 - Section 8(1)(j) - Second Appeal regarding non-disclosure of information related to third parties - The Appellant sought information regarding actions taken against officials, which was not provided as it pertained to third parties - The Commission found that the information sought was exempt under the Act but ordered a revised reply if the Appellant's name was involved. (Paras 7)

(B) RTI Application - The CPIO is required to provide information unless exempted under the Act - The shifting of onus by Respondents was noted as lacking clarity. (Paras 7)

Facts of the case:
The Appellant filed an RTI application seeking information about actions taken against officials, which was not fully provided, leading to a First Appeal and subsequently a Second Appeal to the Commission.

Findings of Court:
The Commission observed that the replies were in accordance with the RTI Act and ordered a revised reply if the Appellant's name was involved in the records.

Issues: The main issues were whether the information sought was exempt under the RTI Act and the clarity of the Respondents' responses.

Ratio Decidendi: The Commission ruled that the information sought was exempt under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, but directed the Respondents to revisit the application to check for any records concerning the Appellant.

Result: Appeal disposed of accordingly.

के (cid:574)ीय सूचना आयोग Central Information Commission बाबा गंगनाथ माग१,मुिनरका

Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka नई िद(cid:671)ी, New Delhi – 110067 ि(cid:554)तीय अपील संূा / Second Appeal No. CIC/POSTS/A/2023/647445 Harsh Lakhera … अपीलकता१/Appellant VERSUS बनाम

1 CPIO: Department of Post, Mandsaur

2 CPIO: Department of Post, Indore …ঋितवादीगण/Respondent Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:

RTI : 23.08.2023	FA : 05.09.2023	SA : 05.10.2023
CPIO : 05.09.2023	FAO : 04.10.2023	Hearing : 23.01.2025

Date of Decision: 21.03.2025 CORAM:

Hon’ble Commissioner _ANANDI RAMALINGAM O R D E R

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 23.08.2023 seeking information on the following points:

“Mere Dwara Purv Me Date 07.06.2023 Ko Post Office Adikshak Mandsaur Ko Rti Aavedan Kiya Tha Jiska No Posts/R/E/23/08584 Hai Iska Mujhe Jawab Mila Ki Sambandit Wqakti Jaanch Me Doshi Paya Gya Uske Baad Mene Wapis Se Rti Aavedan Diya Date 06.07.2023 Jo Wqakti Jaanch Me Doshi Paya Gya Hai Uske Kathan Or Jaanch Se Sambandhit Sare Dastavej Or Doshi Paye Gaye Wqkti Ke Virudh Ki Gayi Karwayi Or Karwayi Me Kiye Gye Aadesh Ki Copy Ki Liye Aagrah Kiya Tha Jiska Jawab Mujhe Aaj Date 23.08.2023 Ko Prapt Hua Jisme Doshi Wqkti Ke Kathan Ki Copy Pratp Hui Hai Or Mujhe Btaya Gya Ki Jo Wqkti Doshi Hai Wo Indore Mofussil Me Karyrat Hai Jiske Virudh Karwayi Adikshak Daakghar Indore Mofussil Dwara Kiya Jana Hai Is Baat Se Yeh Pratit Hota Hai Ki Mandsaur Office Kahi Na Kahi Gumrah Kar Raha Hai Ya Indore Mofussil Office Ko Dastavej Dene Me Koi Samsya Aa Rahi Hai Kripya Aap Mujhe Ye Sabhi Dastavej Ki Copy Deve:

1. Doshi paye gye wyaqkti ki virudh ki gyi karwahi ki copy

2. Jaanch se sambandhit sabhi dastavej ki copy 3. Jaanch se lekar karwahi tak ki report ki copy

4. Jaanch me diye gye sabhi aadhesh ki copy”

2. Respondent No.1 replied vide letter dated 05.09.2023 and the same is reproduced as under :-

1. “ঋकरण म७ तਚालीन पो(cid:720)मेन ঒ी अ(cid:638)ाराम भाभर वत१मान म७ इंदौर मौफ(cid:5016)सल संभाग म७ काय१रत है इस स(cid:638)(cid:576) म७ काय१वाही अधी঴क डाकघर इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल (cid:721)र पर िकया जाना है। (cid:5016)जस हेतु आवेदन अঁेिषत िकया जा रहा है।

2. ঋकरण म७ इस काया१लय (cid:721)र पर उपल(cid:617) जानकरी पআ के साथ संल্ कर ঋेिषत की

जा रही है जो िक िन(cid:635) है –

1. अधी঴क डाकघर इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल को ঋेिषत पআ िदनांक 11.04.2023 की छायाঋित

2. PRI(P) मंदसौर को जाँच हेतु ঋेिषत पআ िदनांक 20.06.2023 की छायाঋित। 3. PRI (P) मंदसौर से ঋा(cid:593) जाँच ौरपोट१ िदनांक 01.07.2023 PRI (P) मंदसौर

4. िवतरण सूिच िदनांक 1.11.2022 की छायाঋित।

3. इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल संभाग से स(cid:638)ंिधत जानकारी हेतु आवेदन को अधी঴क डाकघर इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल को आवेदन अঁेिषत िकया जा रहा है।

ঋकरण म७ इस काया१लय (cid:721)र पर उपल(cid:617) जानकरी पআ के साथ संल্ कर ঋेिषत की

जा रही है जो िक िन(cid:635) है-

1. अधी঴क डाकघर इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल ঋेिषत पআ िदनांक 11.04.2023 की छायाঋित ।

2. PRI (P) मंदसौर को जाँच हेतु ঋेिषत पআ िदनांक 20.06.2023 की छायाঋित ।

3. PRI (P) मंदसौर से ঋा(cid:593) जाँच ौरपोट१ िदनांक 01.07.2023 PRI (P) मंदसौर

4. अधी঴क डाकघर इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल (cid:554)ारा ঋेिषत ঒ी अ(cid:638)ाराम भाभर के कथन की

छायाঋित ।

4. इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल संभाग से स(cid:638)ंिधत जानकारी हेतु आवेदन को अधी঴क डाकघर इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल को आवेदन अঁेिषत िकया जा रहा है।

ঋकरण म७ इस काया१लय (cid:721)र पर उपल(cid:617) जानकरी पআ के साथ संल্ कर ঋेिषत की

जा रही है जो िक िन(cid:635) है

1. अधी঴क डाकघर इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल को ঋेिषत पআ िदनांक 11.04.2023 की छायाঋित

2. PRI (P) मंदसौर को जाँच हेतु ঋेिषत पআ िदनांक 20.06.2023 की छायाঋित ।

इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल संभाग से स(cid:638)ंिधत जानकारी हेतु आवेदन को अधी঴क डाकघर इंदौर मोफ(cid:5016)सल को आवेदन अঁेिषत िकया जा रहा है”

3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 05.09.2023. The FAA vide order dated 04.10.2023 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.

4. Aggrieved with the FAA’s order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 05.10.2023 stating that complete information about the action taken against the erring officials is not being pro

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2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 1535

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSIONAnandi Ramalingam, ICHARSH LAKHERA – AppellantVersusDepartment of Posts – RespondentCIC/POSTS/A/2023/647445

Information sought under RTI regarding third parties is exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, but affected parties may receive relevant information.

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Anandi Ramalingam, IC
HARSH LAKHERA – Appellant
Versus
Department of Posts – Respondent
CIC/POSTS/A/2023/647445