RTI Act not for grievance redressal or dispute adjudication; limited to information disclosure held by public authority.

Headnote:First Paragraph: The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) governs access to public records, including S.2(f), S.7(3). Appellant sought details on association elections, membership deductions, and administrative actions within India Meteorological Department, alleging interference and non-compliance. Commission found CPIO provided appropriate responses, inspection opportunities availed, and no further records exist beyond what was shared. Second Paragraph: Key issues framed as whether RTI queries on internal association matters and fee payments qualify under RTI Act, and if repeated inspections or bypassing charges permissible. Ratio: RTI proceedings cannot adjudicate grievances or disputes beyond information access; CPIO not to create information; superior courts hold RTI not for resolving administrative disputes (paras 15-18). Last Paragraph: The appeals are disposed of accordingly.

Table of Content
1. rti applications on association elections and administration denied full disclosure. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4)
2. payment refusal and faa upheld charges under rti s.7(3). (Para 5 , 6 , 7 , 8)
3. hearing confirmed inspection availed; issue deemed grievance. (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12)
4. cpio response adequate; rti not for creating information. (Para 13 , 14 , 15)
5. rti limited to info access, not disputes; appeals disposed. (Para 16 , 17 , 18 , 19)

Information sought:

1. The Appellant filed an (online/offline) RTI application dated 19.06.2023 seeking the following information:

“Brief Facts: India Meteorological Department Gazetted Officers Association (IMDGOA) had organized its Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) on 20.12.2022 wherein members of Delhi Chapter as well as delegates/representatives of other chapters of IMDGOA participated. It was decided in the AGM to conduct due elections of councilors of IMDGOA (HQ/Delhi Chapter) as proposed by Central Working Committee (CWC) of IMDGOA. One Returning Officer and Two Asstt. Returning Officers were appointed with the approval of General Body. Nominations have been asked by RO & AROs from the members of IMDGOA to contest election of councilors. Free and fair election of councilors of IIQ/Delhi Chapter of IMDGOA has been completed by RO & AROS as per the DoPT approved IMDGOA constitution/Bye-laws.

Set up of elected Central Working Committee (CWC) & RECS (Delhi, Mumbai & Nagpur Chapters) have been submitted to Secretary, MoES and DGM, IMD for further necessary action and records.

After completion of 6 months of elections of CWC & RECS, IMD administration intentionally issued a letter on 19.05.2023 wherein election of IMDGOA councilors has been declared null & void mentioning lame excuse of non deduction of membership subscription by department since last two year. It is to mention here that the deduction of subscription of Association members has to be done by DDO from pay roll as per DoPT guidelines. DDG (A), Smt Ranju Madan intentionally stopped deduction of membership subscription of IMDGOA while verified list of IMDGOA members has been submitted by General Secretary on 10.01.2023 for financial year 2022-23 which is still pending for deduction. General Secretary of IMDGOA has requested many times to hand over membership list for verification for financial 2022-23 but all in vain. instead of providing list of members for verification, DDG (A) Smt Ranju Madan, SC G pressurized General Secretary to add 03 expelled members first in verified list of members for Financial Year 2021-22, then only list to be provided for verification.

General Secretary IMDGOA has requested vide letter No. IMD/GOA/15/2023 dated 29.05.2023 to Secretary, MOES to interfere in the matter and direct IMD administration to withdraw the letter in respect of election of IMDGOA declared as null & void vide letter No. DGM-HQ 13043(11)/8/2021 dated 19.05.2022 illegally, unconstitutionally and on the filmsy ground.

Following information under RTI act 2005 may kindly be provided:

a) Certified copy of action taken by Secretary, MoES.

b) Directions/instructions issued by Secretary MOES to IMD administration to withdraw the letter or resolve the issue? Provide certified copy of directions.

c) IMD administration is openly dishonourning the direction Hon'ble High Court of Delhi ((Hon'ble High Court Delhi WPC No. 2825/2016 & CM 11894/2016) by interfering in association matters in the similar manner as done in 2016 case for which Hon'ble High Court Delhi directed IMD not to interfere in association matters.

e) Please provide Copy of directions issued by Secretary, MOES to IMD administration not to interfere in association matter to avoid willful disobedience of Hon'ble Delhi High Court directions (Hon'ble High Court Delhi WPC No. 2825/2016 & CM 11894/20).

d) Allow inspection of file notings in respect of IMDGOA related matters. And also provide certified copy of pages of files as marked after file inspection.”

2. The CPIO furnished a

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2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 2834

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSIONVinod Kumar Tiwari, Information CommissionerRam Hari Sharma – AppellantVersusCPIO, India Meteorological Department – RespondentCIC/IMETD/A/2024/601094|CIC/IMETD/A/2024/637927

RTI Act not for grievance redressal or dispute adjudication; limited to information disclosure held by public authority.

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Vinod Kumar Tiwari, Information Commissioner
Ram Hari Sharma – Appellant
Versus
CPIO, India Meteorological Department – Respondent
CIC/IMETD/A/2024/601094|CIC/IMETD/A/2024/637927