Appellant: Information provided by the Respondent is case specific; the general rules under which a PLI proposal can be rejected were not provided - CIC enquired and directed the Respondent to re-examine and furnish the general P.O.I.F. rules
4 Dec, 2024O R D E R
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 14.02.2023 seeking information on the following points: (i) As per P.O.I.F. rules under which circumstances a PLI proposal can be rejected. This information is required in connection with my PLI proposal was rejected by Abd. GPO without any genuine reason.
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 27.02.2023 and the same is reproduced as under :-
“PLI Proposal No. N-EAPOO07690720 of Proponent Ms. Megha S Kadia was considered and rejected as per the PLI Directorate's letter no.28-0312019-LI(2) dated 06.07.2020 by Ahmedabad GPO.”
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 01.03.2023 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 22.03.2023 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.
4. Aggrieved with the FAA’s order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 13.05.2023.
5. The appellant remained present through video conference and on behalf of the respondent Mr. Vijay Sonanki Chief Postmaster attended the hearing through video conference.
6. The appellant inter alia submitted that the information provided by the Respondent is case specific, the general rules asked were not provided by the Respondent.
7. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that available copy of rules was provided to the Appellant. When queried by the Commission regarding the general P.O.I.F. rules, he was unable to justify the same.
8. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both parties and perusal of records, directs the Respondent to re-examine and furnish a revised reply to the Appellant based on the discussion held during the hearing. The reply shall be sent to the Appellant, within 15 days of the receipt of this order, under intimation to the Commission.
Accordingly, the appeal is disposed of.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Sd/-
ANANDI RAMALINGAM
Information Commissioner
Citation: D S Kher v. Department of Posts, Second Appeal No. CIC/POSTS/A/2023/122151; Date of Decision: 06.11.2024