Repeated RTI application seeking similar or identical information

The Appellant filed an RTI application seeking information about the merit list for each category for Office Assistant (Assistant) appointed under direct recruitment in 2011 and related information. Before the CIC, the Respondent submitted that the instant case is identical to an earlier decided case of the Appellant vide File No. CIC/DIOAT/A/2022/609371 dated 01.02.2023. After perusal of records, the CIC observed that concededly, the instant RTI Application is a sly repetition of an earlier RTI Application filed by the Appellant on 02.11.2021 which has been decided vide File No. CIC/DIOAT/A/2022/609371 dated 01.02.2023. In other words, points 2 & 5 of the RTI Application of 02.11.2021 corresponds to point no.3 of the instant RTI Application while point no.7 of the former RTI Application corresponds to point no. 4 of the instant RTI Application. Therefore, the CIC held that the instant matter is devoid of any such material on record that warrants determination of a fresh issue for consideration.

Comment

An applicant should realise that there is an expenditure on every RTI Application, which is paid from the Taxpayers money. Repeating RTI applications on the same issue not only leads to unnecessary wastage of time and resources, but also causes delay in disposal of appeals by the other RTI applicants.

Citation: Naresh Kumar v. Defense Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune; Second Appeal No. CIC/DIOAT/A/2023/621378; Date of Decision: 05.08.2024