ORDER

(25.07.2022)

1. The issue under consideration arising out of the second appeal dated 30.06.2020 include non-receipt of the following information sought by the appellant through the RTI application dated 19.04.2020 and first appeal dated 19.05.2020 :-

(i) “Please provide detail policy for the clerical staff for transfer from one district to another, give brief answerable and certified copy of order.

(ii) Is wife is working in Indian bank & husband working in private sector job, please explain whether the wife can be transfer to another district under preferential transfer policy for female candidates, give yes or no answer. If yes who is responsible for the management of family members explain same. Also provide certified copy of order if any policy regarding this.

(iii) Please provide how many clerical staff employee are working more than 5 years in Indian bank in Rajasthan who has not been transferred to another district yet, if yes give provide brief explanation with name of clerical staff who has not been transferred yet as per the policy to another district & brief explanation for same.

(iv) Please provide list of all employee working in Indian Bank Rajasthan who has completed term of years as per the policy of transfer in clerical grade but not yet been transferred yet. With full explanation & certified copy of orders.

(v) Mrs. Kavita (HRM Dept) working at jaipur location has provided the deputation at Sri Ganganagar branch during lock down period yes or no. If yes provide answer with brief explanation for this particular staff why she has provided deputation duty only for Sri Ganganagar branch beside that no movement is allowed during lockdown period ad also provide order coy or other documents for deputation of Mrs. Kavita. Also provide attendance sheet of this staff for deputation duty.

(vi) Provide list of staff working in bank who have requested for deputation duty & list of how much staff has provided the deputation cum rejected list of staff who has not provided deputation duty with brief reason to all of them.”

2. Succinctly facts of the case are that the appellant filed an application dated 19.04.2020 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Indian Bank Corporate Office, Chennai, seeking aforesaid information. The CPIO vide letter dated 19.05.2020 replied to the appellant. Aggrieved by the same, the appellant filed first appeal dated 19.05.2020 The First Appellate Authority (FAA) vide order dated 18.06.2020 disposed of the first appeal. Aggrieved by that, the appellant filed second appeal dated 30.06.2020 before the Commission which is under consideration.

3. The appellant has filed the instant appeal dated 30.06.2020 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 19.05.2020 and the same is reproduced as under :-

“1. There is no exclusive policy for inter district transfers.

2. No information sought as defined under Sec 2 (f) of RTI Act.

3. Information in the lines of query not maintained.

4 & 5. Regarding the information sought, details are exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1) (j) – (as the disclosure of such information would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy of the individual and does not involve larger public interest) under the RTI Act, hence no information is provided.

6. Information in the lines of query not maintained.”

The FAA vide order dated 18.06.2020 reiterated and upheld the CPIO’s reply.

5. The appellant and on behalf of the respondent Shri Partha Ghosh, Assistant General Manager, Indian Bank, Chennai, attended the hearing through video conference.

5.1. The appellant inter alia submitted that the respondent had not provided the requisite information till date.

5.2. The respondent while defending their case inter alia