Whispers Forum

The appellant sought data on customer satisfaction ratings for SBI services from its inception to the current date and asked for the categorization of ratings by type of service and other related information. The PIO provided certain information and clarified before the CIC that data sought on certain points of the RTI application was not available in the desired format. The CIC upheld the order of the CIC. The CIC brought it to the notice of the respondent that in a series of matters filed by the same appellant against a different public authority i.e IDPL (File nos. CIC/IDPCL/A/2024/612395 and CIC/IDPCL/A/2024/604666) an order was passed to veracity of the appellant’s BPL status. The CIC advised the respondent to exercise due caution with respect to the future RTI application received from the appellant relying on his BPL status.
Comments
There is no specific section of the RTI Act, 2005 or rule which prescribes whether the verification of the BPL status should be done, if the PIO has doubts regarding the same. If there are any suspicions, the PIO could ask for the BPL certificate to verify the status of the RTI applicant.
Citation: Rachhpal Singh Saini v. State Bank of India, CIC/SBIND/A/2024/602064; Date of Decision: 22.05.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

I agree with M L Gupta's views. The bureaucrats were equally responsible for what happened during that period. In fact it was the "Over enthusiasm " of some of the bureaucrats, which brought fear and bad name for Family Welfare programme. There is need for change in the conduct rules for civil servants, which should include monetary punishment for deliberate actions against the rules/directions of SC/Constitution.
S Gopal
It is fashion now to resuscitate past events
It has become a fashion nowadays to resuscitate past events, especially unsavoury ones. It is better to stop this process and move on. Also, an irrelevant debate is going on as to which organ of govt is supreme. In my view the organ which fulfills aspirations of downtrodden and weakest strata of society is supreme.
Rajesh Gohel

Democracy revived but administration died The Black Emergency hurt democracy, for which the people of India delivered severest punishment to Indira Gandhi and her Congress Party, which they still remember with shame on their face. But the sinful act of murdering democracy and throwing the constitution of India out of the window inflicted a permanent injury to the administration. It is permanent disability of 99%. Till June 24, 1975, civil servants and judges performed their duty faithfully, sincerely, and honestly as mandated by the law (Rule of Law in letter and spirit). After 25 June 1975 they had no courage to function lawfully as the Rule of Law had suddenly changed to Rule of Wo/man. They simply fell at the feet of the power of the corrupt government of Emergency. A victim of the torture said they were asked to bend, and they prostrated! Contempt poured in these words: “spinal cords were surgically removed”. They have failed to stand straight ever since. Today no organ of the state can proudly assert that none of their community has been accused/charged/punished for corruption, which is illegal gratification for functioning to suit the rule of wo/man.
M L Gupta

Congratulations to both India and the US for enduring partnership between the NASA and ISRO for successful launching of Axiom 4 Mission and sending four astronauts including Group captain Shubhanshu Shukla from India. He is on way to becoming the first Indian pilot to successfully dock with the International Space Station. Sending humans into space and bringing them back safely to earth after two-week- long stay, pose grave challenges. Long stay of spacefarers, outside earth’s gravity, may result in losing the ability to regenerate muscles. Going by Sunita Williams and her co- spacefarer’s experiences, this could even cause muscle atrophy. The ISRO-NASA team, during the mission. is supposed to collect inputs for research in the fields of Genetic engineering and Biotechnology, among others.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The appellant submitted that an arrear was calculated for refixation of his pay. The payment arrear details were prepared by the respondent division and sent to Asansol division duly vetted by Accounts. In this regard, the appellant sought the certified detail of arrear calculation in tabular sheet and the certified Copy of the calculation sheet sent to Asansol division. The PIO provided certain information and replied that the copy of the calculation sheet may be obtained from Asansol division. The CIC observed that the Respondent has not provided complete information to the Appellant and the reply is incomplete, vague and misleading. Merely stating that the information sought is available with some other department does not suffice the information being provided under the RTI Act. If the information sought by the Appellant is not available in their department, then the Respondent should have transferred the RTI application of the Appellant to the concerned department. The Respondent has neither transferred the RTI application under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act nor was assistance sought as per Section 5(4) of the RTI Act. The CIC directed the Respondent to take assistance under Section 5(4) of the RTI Act from the concerned PIO along with consolidated statement which includes due, drawn and balance amount to be paid and provide information to the Appellant, free of cost, within four weeks failing which to show-cause within this period as to why maximum penalty should not be imposed under the RTI Act.
Comments
This order of the CIC is unusual - It contains a direction to the PIO to perform certain functions with a built in show cause notice in case of failure to perform the direction.
Citation: Asim Kumar Dey v. North Eastern Railway, CIC/NERLG/A/2024/600144; Date of Decision: 30.04.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com