The RTI Act does not permit denial of information solely based on sub-judice status without an injunction.

Information sought:

1. The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 11.12.2024 (offline) seeking the following information:

“Claim bearing number: 45080011224390000001 dated 19/05/2022 Registered against policy number: 45080011224300000003 for the time period May 19, 2022 to December 11, 2024.

The information in the form of Any records, registers, documents, memos, emails, reports, advices, confirmations, notices, orders and data material held in electronic form or any other form, pertaining to the claim bearing number: 45080011224390000001 dated 19/05/2022, as per the following:

A. Pertaining to appointment of all the surveyors or any other inermediatiary or agencies (if any).

B . Pertaining to all the contracts issued to all the surveyors or any other inermediatiary or agencies.

C. Pertaining to all the reports submitted by all the surveyors or any other inermediatiary or agencies.

D. Pertaining to complete details of all the payments made to all the surveyors or any other inermediatiary or agencies.

E. Pertaining to all the proceedings, files and registers maintained, processes adopted, all the e-mails and communications related to the claim.

F. Pertaining to the inward and outward registers maintained at various offices showing movement of the claim file(s).

G. Pertaining to all other information related to the claim.

Certified copies of all the information and/or pendrive/e-mails for electronic information that is beyond the scope of being provided in the form of certified copies.”

2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Complainant on 11.12.2024 stating as under:

“No. This refers to your RTI application dtd. 11.12.2024, regarding policy No.45080011224390000001 45080011224300000003. dtd. 19.05.2022 registered against policy

Since the matter is already pending before the H'ble HC under WP No.36267 of 2024 at Indore MP and as there is no specific directions to the Insurance company to provide any document / information to you, therefore, we are unable to provide the same.”

3. Being dissatisfied, the Complainant failed to file a First Appeal. The FAA order is not on record.

4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.

5. Proof of having served a copy of Complaint on Respondent while filing the same in CIC is not available on record.

Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:

The following were present:-

Complainant: Present through VC.

Respondent: Mohammad Rashid, CPIO-cum-Manager, attended the hearing through VC.

6. The Complainant stated that the Respondent has not provided the relevant information as sought in the instant RTI Application. While reiterating the contents of his written submission dated 18.11.2025, the Complainant apprised the Bench that as per Regulation 15 (5) (i) of IRDAI (Protection of Policyholder’s Interest) Regulations 2017, surveyor is bound to submit his final report to the insurer within 30 days of his appointment and the same shall be furnished to the insured/claimant by the insurer.

7. The Respondent submitted that since a connected matter is pending adjudication in the Hon’ble High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Indore, the relevant information was not provided to the Complainant by the then CPIO Ms. Jaya Sugan Priya.

8. The Commission interjected and asked the Respondent that whether they have obtained any stay order from the Court against the Complainant not to give information in RTI, the Respondent replied in negative.

9. A written submission has been received from the Complainant vide letter dated 18.11.2025 and the same has been taken on record.

Decision

10. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both the parties and perusal of the records, observes that the