Addressing the issue of delay in Income Tax refund using RTI
3 Mar, 2013
Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Income Tax Office (ITO), Ward 33(1) seeking information relating to his IT refunds for a period of two years. The Public Information Officer (PIO) transferred the RTI to ITO, Ward 33(1) observing that ITO Ward 45(3) had transferred it to Ward 43(1) without verifying the facts. The PIO, ITO Ward 33(1) informed the appellant that the information sought was not available with them and that ITO Ward 46(1) has been asked to trace out the record.
Proceedings
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant submitted that he has received the refund in December 2012. The PIO submitted that two more additional refunds have been sent to the appellant for Rs. 372/- and Rs. 1638/- in February 2013. The appellant however submitted that the amount refunded to him is not as per existing guidelines. The PIO explained that the refund has been calculated along with interest as per existing departmental guidelines.
View of CIC
The Commission observed that the information has not been provided in prescribed timeline as it was referred from one ITO to another. The CIC directed CIT XI to have the matter enquired into and to fix responsibility for the delay in responding to the RTI request. The Commission also directed that the amount of interest calculated should also be reviewed and a response should provided to the appellant.
Citation: Mr. Satya Prakash Gupta v ITO, Ward 33(1) & Addl. Commissioner of IT in File No. CIC/DS/A/2011/004150/RM
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1092
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission