के(cid:7008)(cid:7076)ीय सूचना आयोग Central Information Commission बाबा गंगनाथ माग(cid:6981),मुिनरका

Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka नई (cid:7408)द(cid:7016)ली, New Delhi – 110067 ि(cid:7367)तीय अपील सं(cid:6990)या / Second Appeal No. CIC/NGTRI/A/2024/118404 Devendra Kumar … अपीलकता(cid:6981)/Appellant VERSUS बनाम CPIO: National Green Tribunal, New Delhi …(cid:7079)ितवादीगण/Respondents Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:

RTI : 15.02.2024 FA : 01.04.2024 SA : 24.05.2024 CPIO : 07.03.2024 FAO : 01.05.2024 Hearing : 14.01.2026 Date of Decision: 14.01.2026 CORAM:

Hon’ble Commissioner P R Ramesh O R D E R

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 15.02.2024 seeking information on the following points:

1. N.G.T. ( एन.जी.टी) अिधिनयम 2010 एवं रा(cid:700)३ीय हौरत अिधकरण (अ(cid:631)ास और ঋिॿया) िनयम 2011 के िजतने भी द(cid:721)ावेज काया१लय म७ उपल(cid:617) है। िह(cid:573)ी व अंঁेजी भाषा म७ मुझे उन सभी दोनो भाषाओ ंकी उঢ अिधिनयम की (cid:729)(cid:700) छायाঋित ঋदान करने की कृपा करे।.

2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 07.03.2024 and the same is reproduced as under :-

“उपय१ुঢ संदिभ१त आर.टी.आई. आवेदन के.लो.सू.अ., रा.ह.अ. के काया१लय म७ िदनांक 21.02.2024 को ঋा(cid:593) ॽआ, िजसम७ आर.टी.आई. अिधिनयम, 2005 के तहत सूचना मांगी गई है। इस संदभ१ म७ आपको सूिचत िकया जाता है िक एनजीटी अिधिनयम, 2010 और अ(cid:586) अ(cid:631)ास और ঋिॿया संदिभ१त अिधिनयम और िनयम, साव१जिनक जानकारी के िलए रा(cid:700)३ीय हौरत अिधकरण की वेबसाइट (www.greentribunal.gov.in) पर िहंदी एवं अंঁेजी

दोनो ंभाषाओ म७ उपल(cid:617) ह॰।“

3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 01.04.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 01.05.2024 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 24.05.2024.

Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:

Appellant: Present through video-conference.

Respondent: Shri Tarun Bajaj, Assistant (judicial)- participated in the hearing.

5. The Appellant inter alia submitted that the PIO has not furnished relevant information as sought in the RTI Applications. Upon being queried regarding which documents he has sought the Appellant stated that he had sought copy of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 and the National Green Tribunal (Practice and Procedure) Rules, 2011, in both Hindi and English languages. He stated the PIO has given a website link and not the copy of documents as sought.

6. The Respondent stated that copy of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 and the National Green Tribunal (Practice and Procedure) Rules, 2011, in both Hindi and English languages is already available in public domain and relevant link in this regard has been already provided to the Appellant.

Decision:

7. Commission has gone through the case records and on the basis of proceedings during hearing observes that the queries of the Appellant have been appropriately PIO. Furthermore, information sought by the Appellant is already in public domain. It is noted that the relevant hyperlink has been duly furnished to the Appellant which can be easily accessed by the public at large. Commission notes that that when an information or record is already in the public domain and there is a procedure for disclosure of such information, the same cannot be said to be held or under the control of public authority and it is deemed to be given to the public at large. In this regard, the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in Registrar of Companies &Ors. vs. Dharmendra Kumar Garg &Ors.

[W.P.(C) 11271/2009], dated 01.06.2012 had held as under:

"10. It is significant that the direction regarding dissemination of information through free or priced documents, or free or priced access to information stored on internet, electronic means, or held manually; free or on payment of predetermined cost for inspection of such documents or records held by public authorities, appear in a chapter on "obligations of public authorities". The