Details of a cheque and beneficiary in respect of appellant’s MIS account were sought - PIO: only brief details about the closure of the account are mentioned in the ledger while the vouchers have been weeded out - CIC: inspection of records allowed
12 Jul, 2014Information sought:
“I have invested the sum of Rs.110000/- in MIS scheme Sadar Bazar Post Office, Nagpur cheque no. 196955 date 10/08/2002 & Sadar Bazar Post Office used to pay interest at the rate of Rs. 825/- per month in saving passbook A/c no. 653337 the paid the interest up to 14/05/2004 regularly. After inquiring they said the MIS has been premature by me & balance had paid. When I asked to give the cheque number. They have not given the number through which the amount was repaid. Therefore I request your honour to give me the cheque number/copy of the paying slip.”
Grounds for the Second Appeal: Satisfactory information has not been provided.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing: The following were present
Appellant: Mr. Mahesh Palekar appellant’s representative through VC
Respondent: Mr. K Ganesan CPIO’s representative through VC
The appellant’s representative stated that his client had invested Rs.1,10,000/- in a five year MIS account on 10/08/2002 and interest was regularly credited to her savings account upto 14/05/2004. He further stated that the appellant had lost her pass book and was repeatedly enquiring with the postal department but no information was provided and she was constrained to file the RTI application but the respondent now claim that the relevant records have been weeded out. He pointed out that the FAA vide his order dated 23/05/2012 has directed the respondent to provide the details of the cheque and beneficiary as available in the record. The CPIO’s representative informed that only brief details about the closure of the account are mentioned in the ledger and certain other papers are available but the vouchers have been weeded out. He further stated that based on the available records he will write to the SBI for the details of the cheque and provide a copy of the bank’s reply to the appellant. The appellant’s representative pleaded for allowing inspection of the records.
Decision notice:
After hearing submissions of both the parties, the CPIO is directed to permit the appellant/her representative to inspect the available records and also allow her/her representative to take photocopies/extracts therefrom, free of cost, upto 10 pages within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order. The CPIO should provide the appellant copy of the relevant rules for premature encashment of MIS held jointly on ‘either or survivor’ basis. Further, as agreed by the CPIO’s representative a communication may be sent to the SBI and a copy of the bank’s reply provided to the appellant. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
BASANT SETH
Information Commissioner
Citation: Mrs. S. B. Tabhane v. Department of Posts in File No. CIC/BS/A/2013/001070/5328