Can the RTI application and first appeal be filed by different persons?
5 Dec, 2012Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) seeking information pertaining to the LIC policy of a third party. He also sought information regarding action taken on his letters while submitting that the third party belonged to the below poverty line segment. The Public Information Officer (PIO) informed that the Grievance Cell of Consumer Affairs Department did not entertain complaints written by Advocates or agents or any third parties on behalf of policyholders. The First appeal was filed by the third party. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) held that as per the provisions of the RTI Act, the person who filed the RTI application and the person preferring the first appeal should be one and the same person. As there were two different persons as in the present case, the FAA dismissed the appeal.
View of CIC
The Central Information Commission (CIC) rejected the appeal observing that the RTI application was filed by one person and the second appeal has been preferred by another person.
Citation: Mr. R.Dinesh Babu v. IRDA in Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2012/000381
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2012/CIC/847
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