RTI Corner

The reimbursement of appellant’s cataract surgery raised with Insurers was restricted to Rs. 30,000 by TPA. The appellant submitted that he is entitled to Rs 50,000/- i.e. 10% of sum insured but the insurers restricted as per GIPSA whereas no such restriction was in the policy and also the insurers failed to share complete details of GIPSA which apparently had lenses of lower specifications than the ones actually installed by the doctor in the surgery. The CIC observed that the Appellant's claim of entitlement to Rs. 50,000 for the cataract surgery as per their insurance policy is a significant matter that deserves immediate attention. Further, it is essential to recognize the larger public interest in this matter. The transparency and accuracy of information related to medical insurance claims and expenses are of great concern to the general public. In an age where healthcare costs are rising, individuals rely on their insurance policies for financial support during medical procedures. The lack of transparency and potential discrepancies in the process can significantly affect public trust in the insurance system. The CIC directed the PIO of United India Insurance Company Limited to furnish the requested information including a detailed breakdown of the medical expenses incurred during the cataract surgery, along with all relevant documents and justifications for the decisions made, free of cost, to the appellant.
Comments This order would pave the way for the transparency in the processing of the insurance claims. Hopefully, the insurers would provide the detailed breakdown to the
Citation: Mr. Ajay Kumar Gupta v. United India Insurance Co. Ltd., CIC/UIICL/A/2023/632292-UM; Date of Decision: 01.11.2023
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Tax details and GST returns of more than a dozen entities sought by the applicant was denied claiming that it is Third Party Information, and cannot be provided being confidential. The applicant made allegations of tax evasion against all the entities in her RTI Application. The respondent PIO was not present during the hearing. The CIC observed that it is not inclined to adversely question the absence of the Respondent PIO during the hearing in the matter as the facts on record suggest that the case is not filed only against the said PIO but also against multiple other PIOs designated in separate public authorities. Yet, for the record, the Respondent PIO was directed to send a proper written explanation stating the reason for their absence during the hearing without intimating any reasons thereof. The CIC held that the Appellant has far stretched her apprehensions and is merely expressing conjecture against the tax liability of the averred entities. The CIC ruled that the strength of the material on record does not suggest any larger public interest in the disclosure of the personal information as well as information bearing commercial confidence of the third parties, rather the underlying premise of the instant RTI Application and the Appeal has an apparent substance of personal dispute. The appeal was rejected.
CommentsThe details regarding the tax returns and payment are personal information of the individual of commercial confidence. The applicant has to establish larger public interest to seek such information.
Citation: Vinita Nareeshkuamr Biyani v. Asstt. Commissioner CGST Service Tax Div IV, CIC/DGSTX/A/2022/159699; Date of Decision: 18/10/2023
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com

The appellant sought to know about the steps taken on the certain communications issued by Department of Food of Ministry of Consumer Affairs of Central Government by the Delhi Government. He asked for information regarding the number of new ration card applications pending as on 31/10/2022. He submitted that there are almost 11 lacs new ration card applications pending before the government. And as per the records of September and November, 2021 provided by the central government to the Delhi government it was revealed that almost 5.5 lac ration card holders have duplicate ration cards and 3 lacs of the ration card holders are already deceased whose names are enlisted in the ration card list. Therefore the appellant requested the CIC to direct the respondent authority to provide the complete and detailed information for the benefit of the society. The CIC advised the Chief Minister of Delhi to take appropriate and strict action on the concerned authorities in order to prevent the resource of government going into vain and not letting the needy people avail the benefit of the ration card issued by the government for the weaker sections of the society. Additionally, the CIC advised the Chief Minister to complete the exercise of removing these approx. 8.40 lakh names without delay so that almost 80 percent of the needy people on the ration card list are accommodated and are able to ease their burden of living.
Comments The RTI Act has been used to obtain information which can be utilised for removing inefficiencies in the system. The Public Distribution System is in dire need for improvements to weed out Bogus and duplicate ration cards so that the benefits percolate down to the actual needy persons.
Citation: Mr. Aakash Goel v. Department of Food & Supplies and Consumers Affairs, CIC/FSACA/A/2023/602410-UM Date of Decision: 20.10.2023
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com