Should a printout of SMS be provided under RTI?
16 Jan, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) seeking details of SMS (Short Messaging Service) that have been sent by a Program Officer, MANREGA from his mobile to appellant’s mobile. He wanted certified copy of the printout of those SMSs. The Public Information Officer (PIO) did not provide the information.
Proceeding
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the PIO stated that technically it is not possible to extract the information from the system and the appellant has been informed accordingly. The appellant requested that a print out of the calls/ SMSs sent to his mobile number from the aforesaid number should be provided. He also alleged that BSNL Office is not displaying the name designation and other particulars of the PIO.
View of CIC
The Commission directed the PIO to provide the information to the appellant as above and if it is technically not possible to extract the information at this stage an appropriate declaration should be furnished to the appellant. The CIC advised the General Manager Telecom to ensure that all BSNL offices under his control should display the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers as per section 4(1)(b)(xvi) of the RTI Act.
Citation: Mr. Mohd. Riyaz Akhtar v. BSNL in File Nos. CIC/LS/A/2012/000229/BS/1567
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/965
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission