O R D E R

(19.10.2023)

1. The issue under consideration arising out of the second appeal dated 22.02.2023 include non-receipt of the following information sought by the appellant through the RTI application dated 26.09.2022 and first appeal dated 28.12.2022:- “I am wife of Sri Kishore Kumar Das, Sr. Manager, Punjab & Sind Bank (H.O.), P.F.

Department, Sidhartha Enclave, Near Ashram Chowk, New Delhi. Kindly supply following information :- (i) Present designation & Pay grade/Pay scale of Sri Kishore Kumar Das.

(ii) The name of nominee in the official service record (Prov. Fund etc) of her husband Mr. Kishore Kumar Das, Sr. Manager, Punjab & Sind Bank (H.O.), P.F. Department, New Delhi..

(iii) Duly attested salary sheet (details of gross salary etc) of her husband Sri Kishore Kumar Das, Sr. Manager Punjab & Sind Bank (H.O.), P.F. department, Sidharth Enclave, Near Ashram Chowk, New Delhi, for the month of July, 2022, August

2022, & September, 2022.

2. Succinctly facts of the case are that the appellant filed an application dated 26.09.2022 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) Punjab & Sind Bank New Delhi seeking aforesaid information. The CPIO vide letter dated 11.11.2022 replied to the appellant. Aggrieved by the same, the appellant filed first appeal dated 28.12.2022. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) vide order dated 02.02.2023 replied to appellant and disposed of the appeal. Aggrieved by that, the appellant filed second appeal dated 22.02.2023 before the Commission which is under consideration.

3. The appellant has filed the instant appeal dated 22.02.2023 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 22.03.2021 to the appellant and the same is reproduced as under:

(i) Present Designation-Senior Manager Pay grade/pay scale-Information available in public domain-https://punjabandsindbank.co.in.

(ii) The information sought by the applicant is personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, and also disclosure of the same would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual. Hence, cannot be provided under Sec 8(1) (j) of RTI Act 2005.

(iii) The information of remuneration of employees of the Bank is available in public domain- https://punjabandsindbank.co.in in terms of Para 4(1) (b) (x) of RTI Act 2005. Hence, providing a separate copy of attested salary sheet of Sri Kishore Kumar Das, Sr. Manager, will not serve any public interest or public activity. Hence, the same is not provided separately.

The FAA vide order dated 02.02.2023 upheld the CPIO’s reply.

5. The appellant represented by her father attended the hearing through video conference and on behalf of the respondent Shri Sanjay Kumar Suman, Assistant General Manager and CPIO and Shri Akshay Kumar Dewal, Senior Manager, Punjab & Sind Bank, New Delhi, attended the hearing in person.

5.1. The representative of the appellant inter alia submitted that the appellant sought information regarding present designation, Pay grade/Pay scale & name of nominee in the official service record of her husband Sri Kishore Kumar Das. The representative further submitted that said information was very essential for the appellant for enhancement of maintainmance amout from the Family Court. It was also stated that the information sought was related to life or liberty of a wife along with her two children (one son & one daughter, pursuing for their advance studies). Accordingly, he prayed for directions to the respondent for providing the complete information.

5.2. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that they had already provided point-wise information to the appellant vide letter dated 22.03.2021.

6. The Commission after adv