Details of the official duty travel to outside of Delhi by Flight of 4 police officers like destination, Travel Date, amount spent etc. was sought - CIC: Reply is inadequate; Respondent to furnish a revised reply addressing the queries raised by Appellant
31 Jan, 2024
Information sought and background of the case:
The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 21.09.2022 seeking the following information related to 4 police officers, viz. a. SI Seema Bhati, b. ASI Shajudeen, c. SI Upender, D. CT Amit:-
“1. Please provide me details of the official duty travel to outside of Delhi by Flight of the 4 police officers between 01/02/2018 and 30/06/2018. I am looking only for information like Travel to which place, Travel Date, How much was the Govt. Spending.
2. Please provide me details of the official duty stay outside of Delhi of the 4 police officers between 01/02/2018 and 30/06/2018. I am looking only for information like Travel to which place, Travel Date, How much was the Govt. Spending.
3. Please provide me the name of the senior police officer(s) who ordered/sanctioned/approved those police officers out of Delhi travel by flight between 01/02/2018 and 30/06/2018.
4. Please provide a copy of all log book/account book records from the New Ashok Nagar PS regarding their travels between 01/02/2018 and 30/06/2018. If any separate fees needed to obtain that copy please let me know.”
The CPIO vide letter dated 20.10.2022 replied as under:-
Subject: Reg. Supply of information/documents under Right to Information Act, 2005.
This is with reference to your RTI online application dated 21.09.2022 received in RTI Cell/East District on 22.09.2022 vide DEPOL/R/E/22/10819 under RTI Act-2005, I am to inform you that as per report received from SHO New Ashok Nagar of East District. The asked information on your RTI application is as under:-
1 to 4 A reply into the matter is enclosed herewith which is self-explanatory.
The First Appellate Authority U/s 19 of RTI Act 2005 is Ms. Priyanka Kashyap, IPS, Dy. Commissioner of Police, East District, Patparganj, Mandawali, Fazalpur, Delhi-110092. You may if so desire, file a 1st Appeal U/s 19 (1) of RTI Act 2005 within 30 days from the date of receipt of this letter, in case you are not satisfied with this response.
SACHIN SHARMA, IPS)
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
ADDL. DY.COMMISSIONER OF POLICE-I,
EAST DISTRICT: DELHI, Ph. No.21210507 (RTI Cell)
Your reply with enclosure has been sent to you on your postal address.
Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 31.10.2022. The FAA vide order dated 24.11.2022 upheld the CPIO's reply.
Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Hearing was scheduled after giving prior notice to both the parties.
Appellant: Present
Respondent: ACP Pawan Kumar and HC Omveer Singh were present during the hearing.
The Appellant contended that queries raised by him have not been answered appropriately. The Respondent pointed out a reply dated 05.12.2020 had been sent in response to similar queries, and had been recorded in the decision dated 19.09.2022 passed in an earlier appeal number: CIC/DEPOL/A/2021/602418, decided by this Commission.
Decision:
Upon perusal of records of the appeal at hand, the Commission finds that the reply sent by the Respondent is inadequate and does not address the queries raised by the Appellant in this case. Hence, the Respondent is hereby directed to furnish a revised reply addressing the queries raised by the Appellant, regarding the four specific public officials travelling on official duty, outside of Delhi by Flight between 01/02/2018 and 30/06/2018, the destination of travel, travel date, amount spent on the travel etc.. The Revised reply should contain only information which are not specifically exempt from disclosure under the RTI Act and should be sent to the Appellant within three weeks of receipt of this order.
The Respondent shall submit a compliance report before the Commission in this regard.
The appeal is disposed off with the above directions.
Heeralal Samariya
Chief Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Elsykutty Joseph v. Delhi Police, CIC/DEPOL/A/2022/664794; Date of Decision : 04.01.2024