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2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 3369
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Vinod Kumar Tiwari, Information Commissioner
Anita Anand – Appellant
Versus
PIO, Rajan Babu Institute for Pulmonary Medicine & Tuberculosis – Respondent
CIC/MCDND/A/2023/118346|CIC/MCDND/A/2023/118391|CIC/MCDND/A/2023/118350
RTI Act mandates providing non-voluminous personal records of applicant without inspection requirement; penalty for willful denial.
Headnote:First Paragraph: Right to Information Act, 2005 governs disclosure obligations. Appellant sought progress on representations for pending dues, unpaid fees, and electricity bills post-retirement. Court found respondents violated RTI by denying information as 'personal' without public interest exemption and wrongly directing inspection. Second Paragraph: Whether information on appellant's own representations constitutes third-party personal data exempt under RTI Act. Ratio: Information sought was appellant's own records, not voluminous or third-party; CPIO/FAA adopted lackadaisical approach, obstructing access with mala fide intent. Last Paragraph: Appeals disposed with directions to provide point-wise information free of cost; show-cause notices issued for maximum penalty under S.20; advisory to include names/designations in replies.
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 08.10.2022 seeking the following information:
“1. Daily progress made on my representation submitted vide diary no.3630 dated 18.06.2022 regarding payment of pending dues on priority basis with effect from June 18,2022 to date, due to my retirement on 30.04.2023.
2. Names and designations of concerned officials/officers who had to do the needful regarding my representation reg. priority payment of pending dues.” The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 29.10.2022 stating as under:
“Reply: 1. The information asked by the applicant is personal in nature, and do not serve larger public interest. However the applicant may inspect the concerned diary register/ records and note down the daily progress report.
2.Sh. Devinder Kumar, JSA is looking after the charge. The applicant may Contact the Concerned Dealing Clerk for appropriate action.”
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 30.11.2022. The FAA vide its order dated 20.01.2023, held as under:-
“The applicant has been granted personal hearing for RTI ID Bearing no 66/RBIPMT on dated 12.12.22, and for RTI ID bearing 67/RBIPMT/2022, 68/RBIPMT/2022, 69/RBIPMT/2022, 70/RBIPMT/2022 dated on 16.01.23 respectively, it reveals that the applicant had filled multiple RTI application requesting various information. The matter was discussed in details.
During the personal hearing, it reveals that adequate information has been provided to the applicant. However the applicant is at liberty to inspect the concerned record and get the required information / document as available in the office after submission of Rs.2/- per page in Mpl. Fund, w.r.t. information falls within the ambit of the RTI Act, within 15 days after receipt of this letter.”
CIC/MCDND/A/2023/118391
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 08.10.2022 seeking the following information:
“1. Daily progress made on my representation submitted vide diary no.1543/07.06.2022 regarding details of unpaid license fees, water charges or any other unpaid amount, if due, etc to be paid by me, with effect from June 07,2022 to date.
2. Names and designations of concerned officials/officers who had to do needful on my representation for providing details of unpaid license fees, water charges or any other unpaid amount if due, etc to be paid by me.”
The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 29.10.2022 stating as under:
“Reply: 1. The information asked by the applicant is personal in nature, and do not serve larger public interest. However the applicant may inspect the concerned diary register/ records and note down the daily progress report.
2. Sh. Devinder Kumar, JSA is looking after the charge. The applicant may Contact the Concerned Dealing Clerk for appropriate action.”
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 30.11.2022. The FAA vide its order dated 20.01.2023, held as under:-
“The applicant has been granted personal hearing for RTI ID Bearing no 66/RBIPMT on dated 12.12.22, and for RTI ID bearing 67/RBIPMT/2022, 68/RBIPMT/2022, 69/RBIPMT/2022, 70/RBIPMT/2022 dated on 16.01.23 respectively, it reveals that the applicant had filled multiple RTI application requesting various information. The matter was discussed in details.
During the personal hearing, it reveals that adequate information has been provided to the applicant. However the applicant is at liberty to inspect the concerned record and get the required information / document as available in the office after submission of Rs.2/- per page in Mpl. Fund, w.r.t. information falls within the ambit of the RTI Act, within 15 days after receipt of this letter.”
CIC/MCDND/A/2023/118350
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 08.10.2022 seeking the following information:
“1. Daily progress made on my representation submitted vide diary no.1429 dated 04.05.2022 regarding issuing of pending electricity bills application with effect from May 04,2022 to date.
2. Names and de
