PIO must respond to RTI applications on proper office letterhead with his name and designation
20 Dec, 2012Background
The appellant filed four applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) seeking a copy of rules and regulations based on which the SSC had allowed age relaxation to the employees of the Union Territories up to the year 2003 and the details of recruitment made for the NCT of Delhi under SC/ST/OBC categories over a period of time. The Public Information Officer (PIO) informed the appellant that the SSC follows the rules and regulations framed by the central government in the matter of the age relaxation for recruitment to various posts. Regarding the recruitment details the PIO stated that no such information was compiled by the SSC and thus the desired information was not available.
Proceeding
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant emphasized that the SSC must provide the government circulars based on which it had been advertising up to the year 2003 that age relaxation would be applicable to the employees of not only the Central Government but also those of the Union Territories. He further submitted that while responding to one of the RTI applications, the PIO had provided the information in a handwritten note on the copy of the RTI application itself. The appellant objected to this and wanted the reply to be sent on proper stationery and office letterhead.
View of CIC
The Commission directed the PIO to provide a copy of that government circular based on which the advertisement notices issued up to the year 2003 clearly stated that the age relaxation would be available also to the employees of the Union Territories in recruitment to the central government posts. However, if there is no such circular available now, the PIO should very clearly state that. The Commission also held that the PIO must send his reply on proper office letterhead with his name and designation clearly mentioned and directed him to reply to the appellant accordingly. Observing that if the SSC had made recruitments for the government of NCT of Delhi, it would be appropriate for the PIO to ask the relevant divisions in the SSC to search their records, especially up to the year 2003 and send the photocopies of the lists of candidates recommended by the SSC to the NCT of Delhi. However, if no such record is available the PIO should suitably reply the appellant.
Citation: Mr. Harender Singh v. Staff Selection Commission in File No.CIC/SM/A/2012/000707, 735, 1273 & 1368
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2012/CIC/886
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission