Details of visa records, passport and cancellation of citizenship of a person was denied stating that the information being very old was not computerised and not maintained - CIC: ascertain the status of information as held by the Ministry and provide
17 Dec, 2013ORDER
Facts:
1. In his RTI application dated 21 December 2012 the Applicant has sought from the CPIO, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, information regarding visa records, Indian passport and cancellation of nationality/citizenship of Mr. Radhey Sham Goel and other related information.
2. The CPIO vide his order dated 16 January 2013 informed the Appellant that Bureau of Immigration should be able to provide the requisite information.
3. Not satisfied with the reply of the CPIO, Appellant preferred an appeal dated 2 February 2013 before the FAA.
4. The FAA by his order dated 25 February 2013 disposed of the appeal, holding that the information sought by the Appellant is not maintained by this Ministry. Thus aggrieved by the order passed by the FAA, the Appellant has filed his second appeal before the Commission.
5. Matter was heard today. Both parties as above appeared in person and made submissions. It was submitted by the CPIO that the information sought by the appellant was held by the Bureau of Immigration which is an exempt organisation under the Schedule II of the RTI Act read with section 24 of the Act. It is also submitted that the passport in respect of which information sought had been cancelled in 1977 – 78 and that this information been very old was not computerised and not maintained by the Ministry.
Decision notice
6. After hearing both parties Commission directs the CPIO/ CPV division, Ministry of External Affairs to ascertain the status of information as held by the Ministry and to provide the same to the Appellant in case the old information is preserved. In case information is not preserved, this information will also be provided to the Appellant within three weeks of receipt of the order.
(Smt. Deepak Sandhu)
Chief Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Rajiv Kumar v. Ministry of External Affairs in Appeal: No. CIC/SM/A/2013/000615/DS