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2026 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 7096
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Swagat Das, Information Commissioner
Virpal Singh – Appellant
Versus
C.P.I.O, Northern Railway – Respondent
CIC/NRAIL/C/2024/134812
For the Appellants/Petitioners:
For the Respondents: Shri Ankit Sharma
Penalties under the RTI Act require evidence of mala fide intent or deliberate obstruction; a genuine, good-faith procedural error by a PIO in denying information does not warrant disciplinary action under Section 20.
Headnote:The case involves a complaint filed under Section 18 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, alleging non-receipt of information sought by the complainant regarding parking contracts and inspections at various railway stations. The Respondent argued that the initial application was accompanied by a defective Indian Postal Order (IPO), preventing processing, and noted the Complainant's failure to provide a correct fee. The core issue before the Commission was whether the Respondent wilfully obstructed information under the RTI Act, thereby warranting penal action. Referencing the Delhi High Court's ruling in Registrar of Companies & Ors v. Dharmendra Kumar Garg & Anr, the Commission determined that an incorrect interpretation or procedural rejection by a Public Information Officer (PIO) does not automatically amount to mala fide or unreasonable conduct sufficient to invoke penalty provisions under Section 20 of the Act. The Commission held that no mala fide was observed. The final order directs the Respondent to provide the requested information or an updated reply to the Complainant within four weeks, facilitating the process free of cost, and the complaint is disposed of accordingly.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. overview of rti request, procedural disputes regarding ipo, and parties' submissions. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8) |
| 2. application of law regarding penalty requirements and evidence of mala fide conduct. (Para 9 , 10 , 11) |
| 3. final direction to provide information and disposal of the complaint. (Para 12) |
RTI application filed on : 08-09-2024
CPIO replied on : 03-10-2024
First appeal filed on : Not filed
First Appellate Authority’s order : Not on record
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 10-10-2024
Information sought:
1. The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 08-09-2024 seeking the following information:
“1> मु. ज.सु/आर. टी.आई/ि(cid:554)ितय-अपील/िवरपाल िसह/285/मुरा./2023 सी िदनांक 02.11.2023 ऋकरण म७ सूचमाथ५ (cid:554)ारा िदनांक 10/11/2023 को िनौरण (Inspection) कर िच्िहत पआ सुचना ऋा(cid:593) करने हेतु िदया गया था/िचह्िहत पआ के साथ आपके (cid:554)ारा िच्(cid:590)त पआ के अनुॺप उपल(cid:617) कराई गई। सूचनाऐ/RTI- 2005 Act 6 (i) अंतग१त िविधवक उपल(cid:617) कराऐ।
2) RTI-2005 अ(cid:566)ग१त घेरेदार रेलवे (cid:720)ेशन, ৹ालापुर रेलवे (cid:720)ेशन, ऋिषकेश रेलवे (cid:720)ेशन, लसर रेलवे (cid:720)ेशन ॹडकी रेलवे (cid:720)ेशन, साहरनपुर रेलवे (cid:720)ेशन, ऐथल रेलवे (cid:720)ेशन, डोईवाला रेलवे (cid:720)ेशन पािक१ग के अनुब(cid:576) की सूचना िविधवक उपल(cid:617) कराऐ। िविधवक (जो उ(cid:671)े्खत उढ रेलवे (cid:720)ेशनो पर िजन अनुब(cid:576) पआके आधार पर पािक४ग संचािलत िक जाती है। उनकी (05) वष५ के अनुब(cid:576) पआो की सूचना उपल(cid:617) कराऐ।
3> देहरादून रेलवे पौरषर / (cid:720)ेशन पर िकतनी पारिकग संचािलत है। पािक१ग के अनुब(cid:576) पआो की सूचना उपल(cid:617) कराऐ। पूण१तः RTI-2005 का अनुपालन करते ॽऐ। िविधवक”
2. The PIO vide its letter dated 03-10-2024 provided information to the Complainant, which states as under:
“उपरोढ संदिभ१त के स(cid:638)ध म७ सू० है िक ऑफ-लाइन आर. टी.आई.मूल ऋाथ१ना-पआ िदनाकं 08.09.2024 के स(cid:638)(cid:576) म७ आवेदक िवरपाल िसंह (मोबाइल - 9152098928 ) पता- कै(cid:533)ाड़ा ৹ालपुर हौर(cid:554)ार,(पआकार)उ(cid:517)राखऔ िपन न.249407 (cid:554)ारा सूचना पैरा-01 से 03 म७ मांगी गई सूचना ऋा्(cid:593) हेतु 10/-ॺपये का (भारतीय पो(cid:720)ल ऑडर न.64F 504791), लो.सू.अ./वािण৸ एवं स.वािण৸ ऋब(cid:576)क मुरादाबाद के प म७ भेजा गया मा(cid:586) नही है। अतः उपरोढ मांगी गई सूचना की ऋा्(cid:593) हेतु 10/-ॺपये का (भारतीय पो(cid:720)ल ऑड१र -IPO) वौर(cid:703) मऔल िव(cid:517) ऋब(cid:576)क/उतर रेलबे/ मुरादाबाद (SR.DFM/NR/MB) के प म७ भेज७, िजससे स(cid:638)्(cid:576)त सूचना पर िबचार िकया जा सके ,तथा उढ भारतीय पो(cid:720)ल ऑडर न.(64 F 504791 ), 10/-ॺपये का िजसको मूल ॺप म७ आवेदक को वापस िकया जाता है जो इस पआ के साथ सल(cid:785)(cid:561) है।”
3. The Complainant failed to file a First Appeal. The F.A.A order is not on record.
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Complainant: Present through Video-Conference.
Respondent: Shri Ankit Sharma, ACM & CPIO present through Video-Conference.
5. Proof of having served a copy of Complaint on Respondent while filing the same in CIC on 10.10.2024 is not available on record. Respondent confirms non-service.
6. The Complainant, during the hearing, reiterated the contents of his RTI application and instant complaint and submitted that till date information has not been provided to him by the Respondent.
7. Updated reply dated 26.05.2026 of the Respondent are taken on record and the same is reproduced hereinbelow:
“इस स(cid:7013)ब(cid:7008)ध म(cid:7286) माननीय के(cid:7008)(cid:7076)ीय सूचना आयोग नई (cid:7408)द(cid:7016)ली फाइल न.CIC/NRAIL/A/2022/158494-UM िनण(cid:6981)य (cid:7408)दनांक 22.09.2023 के अनुपालन म(cid:7286) सूचना - 1)-ह(cid:7407)र(cid:7367)ार रेलवे (cid:7021)टेशन म(cid:7286) (cid:7408)कतने ठेकेदार (Contractor ) काय(cid:6981)रत है िजस काय(cid:6981) को िजसके (cid:7367)ारा संचािलत (cid:7408)कया जा रहा ह।ै उनके काय(cid:6981) स(cid:7013)बि(cid:7008)ध अिभलेख(cid:7298) का सन् 2018 से 2022 तक का िन(cid:7407)र(cid:6979)ण (Inspection) सू
