केन्द्रीय सचू ना आयोग Central Information Commission बाबा गगं नाथ मागग, मनु नरका

Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka नई दिल्ली, New Delhi – 110067 नितीय अपील संख्या / Second Appeal No. CIC/NINSB/A/2024/622472.

Shri. Arjun Singh. … अपीलकताग/Appellant VERSUS/बनाम PIO, …प्रनतवािीगण /Respondent National Institute of Biological.

Date of Hearing : 12.03.2025 Date of Decision : 12.03.2025 Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Heeralal Samariya Relevant facts emerging from appeal:

RTI application filed on : 28.02.2024 PIO replied on : 22.03.2024 First Appeal filed on : 29.04.2024 First Appellate Order on : 20.05.2024 2ndAppeal/complaint received on : 29.05.2024 Information sought and background of the case:

The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 28.02.2024 seeking information on following points:-

“1. Provide copy of Green sheet noting w.r.t NIB letter vide no.: A.2-74/2022-

NIB dated 24.01.2024.

2. Provide copy of Green sheet noting w.r.t NIB O.M vide F.No. A.2-70/2019-

NIB/465 dated 04-06.2021.

3. Provide information regarding advertisement no.: A.2-70/2019-NIB.

a. Minimum Qualifying prescribed and Max. Marks for written test for Jr.

Scientist post?

b. How many candidates qualified the written exam of Jr. Scientist?

c. What was the marks/percentage obtained by LOWEST QUALIFIED candidate in written exam Jr. Scientist?

d. Minimum Qualifying prescribed and Max. Marks for written test in Group A post, Scientist II?

e. How many candidates qualified the written exam of Scientist II?

f. How many candidates were called for the Interview of Scientist II?

g. What was the lowest marks obtained by not qualified candidate in written exam, called for Interview of Scientist II?”

The CPIO, Administrative officer (Fin) vide letter dated 22.03.2024 replied as under:-

“1-2. Confidential information cannot be disclosed under RTI Act 2005.

3a. As per published advertisement

3b-h. Information had been published al Institute's website.

i. Confidential information cannot be disclosed under RTI Act 2005.

4-7. Third party information cannot be disclosed under RTI Act 2005.”

Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 29.04.2024. The FAA, NIB vide order dated 20.05.2024 stated as under :-

“Please refer to your application No NINSB/A/E/24/00004 dt. Nil under RTI Act, 2005 wherein it has been mentioned that PIO had not provided the requisite information whereas the information has already been furnished by PIO vide letter No. F.43-4/2020/RTI/NIB/(Vol.-II)/2149 dated 22.03.2024.

(Copy enclosed for ready reference).”

Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.

Written submission dated 08.03.2025 has been received from the Respondent and same has been taken on record for perusal. The relevant extract whereof is as under:

“Kindly refer to the notice of hearing for appeal in respect of RTI Application filed by Sh. Arjun Singh forwarded to this Institute vide notice No. CIC/NINSB/A/2024/622472 dated 13-02-2025 The case under reference is listed for hearing on 12.03.2025 at 11.55 AM before the Hon'ble Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Heeralal Samariya in the Room No.402. As desired by the Commission the necessary inputs in the matter are given hereunder:

i) The application No. NINSB/R/E/24/00006 dated 28.02.2024 has been replied to Shri Arjun Singh vide CPIO letter dated

21.03.2024(copy enclosed for reference)

ii) The information sought by Sh. Arjun Singh vide his RTI application is enclosed herewith. The relevant information, wherever available, is being provided to the applicant.

1 and 2: confidential information cannot be disclosed under RTI Act.

3(a) As per published advertisement (b) to(h) : Information had been published at Institute's website.

(i) Confidential information cannot be disclosed under RTI Act 2005

4. Third party information can not be disclosed under RTI Act.2005..etc..”

Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:

Appellant: Present in person.

Respondent: Mr. P.K. Mohapatra, AO(F), Dr. Ga