The RTI Act mandates that information must be provided if available, contingent on the requester supplying sufficient identifying details.

Hon’ble Commissioner _ANANDI RAMALINGAM O R D E R

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 08.04.2024 seeking information on the following points:

1. Whether the Bank of Baroda (District Centre, Janakpuri Branch, West Delhi)

has maintained the records of the various loans disbursed from April -

September 2000.

2. If the answer to the above query is in the affirmative –

a) then please inform me if the Bank of Baroda (District Centre, Janakpuri Branch, West Delhi) has disbursed any kind of loan to the undersigned (Rakesh Gosain, Son of Shri Krihan Lall Gosain, R/o 73-A, DDA flats, Gulabi Bagh, Delhi-110006).

b) Kindly provide the account number, date of disbursement of the loan, date of final payment of the loan, and copy of no dues certificate.

c) Kindly provide the complete statement of account for the loan obtained by the undersigned.

3. Kindly inform if the Bank of Baroda (District Centre, Janakpuri Branch, West Delhi) can access the customer accounts from the names and addresses of the customers or not.

4. Kindly inform me how the Bank of Baroda (District Centre, Janakpuri Branch, West Delhi) can access the customer accounts if the loan account details are lost or not available.

5. Kindly inform me when the Bank of Baroda (District Centre, Janakpuri Branch, West Delhi) began KYC for the first time in its branch. Give documentary proof …, etc./ other related information

2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 02.05.2024 and the same is reproduced as under :-

“We write to inform you that bank already dispose of your earlier online RTI on same subject matter wherein you have sought information regarding loan obtained by you against his LIC policies (bearing LIC policy numbers 111927044 and 111927045) from the Bank of Baroda, (District Centre, Janakpuri Branch, West Delhi) in June -September 2000 in your RTI application.

In this regard, We had sought through portal in your earlier online RTI application to provide the loan account number, purpose of loan and KYC of the customer to search the requisite information in system as you have sought information almost 24 years ago i.e. 2000 as it is not showing in our system. But despite our request you have neither provided any account details and any loan agreement in reply and also not provided any endorsement/confirmation of pledge/hypothecation of LIC policies from LIC in favour of Bank of Baroda.

Hence, we are unable to provide you any information without above requisite information. of Please provide confirmation/endorsement pledge/hypothecation of LIC policies from LIC in favour of Bank of Baroda”

3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 24.05.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 15.06.2024 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.

4. Aggrieved with the FAA’s order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated Nil.

5. The appellant remained absent and on behalf of the respondent OPV Singh, Deputy Regional Manager, attended the hearing in-person.

6. The respondent while defending their case inter alia endorsed their initial reply dated 02.05.2024.

7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the respondent and perusal of records, observes that the CPIO has provided an appropriate reply to the RTI Application, as per the provisions of the RTI Act. Further, in the absence of the Appellant to plead his case or contest the CPIO’s submissions, the Commission finds no scope of intervention in the matter. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.

Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.