Disclosure of Income tax return in a dowry case
30 Dec, 2011
Background of the case
The Appellant sought some information regarding pay fixation in the case of one Ex-Draftsman, GSI, as per the Sixth Pay Commission. The PIO said information could not be disclosed since it concerned a third party. The Appellate Authority also endorsed the decision of the PIO and also referred to the objection of third party in writing.
View of CIC
The Commission held that just as the salary and other compensation details paid to any public servant have to be disclosed under the Right to Information Act, similarly the amount of pension being paid to an ex-employee should also be disclosed. The Commission observed that all that the appellant sought in this case is nothing but the revised pension being paid to a particular former employee of the government. The Commission ruled that such information could not be denied by taking exemption under one or the other provisions of the Right to Information Act and cannot be even considered to be third party information just as the salary details of a serving employee cannot be considered to be third party information. The PIO was directed to furnish the information to the appellant.
Citation: Shri V P Mittal v. Punjab National Bank in File No.CIC/SM/A/2011/000166