Can information be sought on a letterhead of the employer organisation?
15 Jan, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) seeking various information regarding Junior Telecom Officer (JTO) (E) at Daltonganj section such as Details of his salary, GPF contribution, amount in GPF, details of leaves taken, his tenure, the facilities given to him etc. The Public Information Officer (PIO) responded to the application.
Proceeding
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the PIO stated that the information requested by the appellant could not be furnished to him as he has applied on the letterhead of BSNL and had also put his designation as Junior Telecom Officer in his RTI application. He argued that since the appellant has not applied as a citizen the information cannot be disclosed to him under the RTI Act.
View of CIC
The Commission observed that the fact that appellant is an employee of the respondent public authority clearly identifies him as a citizen of the Country thereby qualifying him to seek information under section 3 of the RTI Act. The Commission noted that as per section 6(2) of the RTI Act, an applicant is required to furnish only the details that may be necessary for contacting him. The CIC further stated that the mere fact that the appellant has filed the RTI application on the letterhead of his employer and mentioned his designation below his name does not disqualify him from seeking information under the RTI Act. The Commission directed the PIO to provide the sought information to the appellant.
Citation: Mr. N. K. Sharma v. BSNL in File No. CIC/LS/A/2012/000069/BS/1486
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/963
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission