केन्द्रीयसचू नाआयोग Central Information Commission बाबागगं नाथमाग,ग मनु नरका

Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka नईदिल्ली, New Delhi – 110067 निकायत संख्या / Complaint No. CIC/HPCLD/C/2025/600858 Shri Siddhartha Mukherjee निकायतकताग /Complainant VERSUS/बनाम PIO, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited …प्रनतवािीगण /Respondent (HPCL)

Date of Hearing : 13.06.2025 Date of Decision : 13.06.2025 Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Heeralal Samariya Relevant facts emerging from complaint:

RTI application filed on : 22.10.2024 PIO replied on : 08.11.2024 First Appeal filed on : 30.11.2024 First Appellate Order on : 27.12.2024 2ndAppeal/complaint received on : 05.01.2025 Information sought and background of the case:

The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 22.10.2024 seeking information on the following points:-

“I am writing to you to allow/permit inspection of my employee folder maintained by HPCL under the RTI Act, 2005.

2. In this connection, CPIO is requested to confirm availability of dates out of his/her busy schedule so that I may visit the Office and carry out the inspection of the file U/S 6 (1), 7 (1) read with Section 2 (j) of the RTI Act, 2005.

3. Furthermore, the CPIO is requested to decide the present RTI Application within 48 hours as the information is related to the life and liberty of the RTI Applicant and his dependent family members owing to the fact that the RTI Applicant has been dismissed from service on 31/07/2024 adversely impacting his life; liberty and livelihood.

4. The RTI Applicant undertakes to pay further requisite fee against copying charges against the documents to be identified at the stage of the file inspection which shall be paid on the spot.”

The CPIO, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Mumbai vide response dated 08.11.2024 replied as under:-

“Please note that employee and ex-employees, records and data on various aspects is maintained in both physical as well as electronic mode. It is also to be noted that data and records are maintained at various offices stationed at different locations. Therefore, in order facilitate you to access the relevant files and records pertaining to you, are brought in at one single location, request you to please revert at the earliest with regard to specific documents and records you wish to inspect.”

Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Complainant filed a First Appeal dated 30.11.2024. The FAA vide order dated 27.12.2024 held as under:-

“………..CPIO is hereby advised to issue necessary communication with advance notice to the appellant allowing him inspection of his employee folder on specific date, time and venue within 10 days from the date of receipt of this order.”

In compliance of FAO, CPIO, HPCL, Mumbai vide letter dated 31.12.2024 stated as under:-

“……….you may please visit your last place of posting, wherein the inspection will be facilitated by the location in-charge, Shri Mahendra Singh, DGM - Installation, Rewari IRD on 10/01/2025 from 1100 Hrs. to 1200 Hrs. The complete address of the location is as follows:

Rewari IRD, HPCL Terminal VPO-Karnawas Rewari Bawal Road Rewari-123401 Please note that if you wish to extend your inspection beyond an hour time a fee of Rs. 5 for each subsequent hour or fraction thereof will be payable.

Please also note that no electronic devise will be allowed during the inspection of the documents, and you will be allowed only pencil and blank page of paper for noting down the relevant information, and in case you want a photocopy of the specific document(s), upon submission of requisition in writing, the same may be provided to you subject to your payment of applicable fees.”

Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint alleging inter alia non compliance of 48 hour timeline under Section

7(1) of the RTI Act.

Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:

Written submissions dated 26.05.2025, 29.05.2025, 07.06.2025 and 10.06.2025 have been received from the Complainant