ORDER

(25.08.2022)

1. The issue under consideration i.e. the reliefs sought by the complainant in the complaint dated 09.07.2020 due to alleged non-supply of information vide RTI application dated 09.06.2020 are as under:-

Admit the complaint and inquire into the same by invoking its powers under Section 18 of the RTI Act.

While inquiring into the matter, invoke its power under Section 18(3) of RTI Act to (a) summon and enforce the attendance of respondents and compel them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce the documentsor things; (c) receive evidence on affidavit; or (f) any other matter which may be prescribed.

Impose penalty on respondent as per Section 20(1) of RTI Act and to recommend Disciplinary Action against the respondent as per Section 20(2) of RTI Act.

2. Succinctly facts of the case are that the complainant filed an application dated 09.06.2020 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Punjab National Bank, New Delhi, seeking following information:

“With Reference to attached Order No. F.No.15/32/2020-IR dated 01/06/2020 of Department of Financial Services regarding implementation of Order dated 04/05/2020 of High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan Bench at Jaipur (D.B. Civil Writ Peon No. 4993/2020) in Manoj Kumar Meena versus State of Rajasthan, please provide the following information in soft copy only:

i) Please inform the date of communication/directions/guidelines received by your good office from Department of Financial Services regarding compliance of the said order of honorable Rajasthan High Court in leer and spirit.

ii) Please provide the Action Taken Report to implement the above mentioned court order in leer and spirit by your good office to protect the life of bankers as guaranteed by Article 21 of Indian Constitution iii) Please inform the total number of employees in Punjab National Bank tested for COVID-19 till date iv) Please inform the total number of Employees across your Punjab National Bank found COVID-19 positive till date v) Please inform the total number of COVID-19 Positive cases among Employees of your Punjab National Bank recovered so far.

vi) Please inform the total number of Employees of your Punjab National Bank succumbed to COVID-19 till date

vii) Please inform the total number of Bank Branches of your Punjab National Bank sealed due to COVID-19 Positive cases among your employees till date viii) Please inform the total number of Bank Branches of your Punjab National Bank Sanitized till date

ix) Please inform tentative date up to which all Employees of your Bank will be provided standard PPE kits for providing essential services during pandemic COVID-19 x) Please inform the tentative date by which your good office is going to enhance insurance cover up to 50 lacs for all Employees of your Bank

xi) Please inform the tentative date by which policy of compulsory 14 days home quarantine for staff after certain days of continuous working at branches will be implemented

xii) Please provide the copy of all leers/circulars/OM/notification/guidelines received by your good office from DFS for making necessary arrangements at branch level to protect bank employees from corona virus.

xiii) Please inform about Monitoring mechanism of the DFS issued to you for the effectively preventing employees of your Punjab National Bank from becoming CORONA Positive. Therefore, it is most respectfully prayed to provide above mentioned information within 48 hours in accordance with Section 7(1) of RTI Act, 2005 as the matter pertains to life and liberty of all employees of Punjab National Bank”.

The CPIO did not reply to the complainant. Aggrieved by the same, the complainant filed complaint dated 09.07.2020 before the Commission which is under consideration.

3. The complainant has filed the instant complaint dated 09.07.2020inter alia on the grounds that reply given by the CPIO was not satisfactory.

4. The CPIO did not give any reply within