Findings of various committees formed to assess the working of the Indian Olympic Association Secretariat & to overhaul the service rules relating to staff of IOA was sought - CIC: The reports are important documents & must should be kept in public domain
2 Jun, 2017FINAL ORDER
FACTS:
1. The appellant filed RTI request to seek information about the findings of the various committees which were formed to carry out an assessment of the working of the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) Secretariat and to overhaul the service rules relating to staff of IOA as she has a grievance related to non payment of dearness allowances at the time of retirement. She sought a copy of the reports which were published by the following different committees –
(i) a committee headed by Shri B.S. Ojha to reform the pay of IOA staff members and to evaluate the performance of IOA Secretariat
(ii) a two member committee headed by Shri A.K. Matto and Dr. Lalit Bhanot to look into the matters related to staff members
(iii) a three member committee headed by Shri N. Ramachandaran, Shri Anil Khanna and Shri Anup Mehta to reform service rules / pay of IOA staff.
The appellant approached this commission since she did not receive any information from CPIO and First Appellant Authority.
Decision :
2. The appellant stated that she has a grievance pertaining to non-payment of her dearness allowance at the time of her retirement and in this regard she is running from pillar to post at the office of Labour Commissioner to get it clarified/settled but in vain. Shri Ravneet Mishra, Advocate submitted that the information was provided to the appellant. Further, the Advocate submitted that the appellant had earlier submitted a similar representation before the respondent authority which was duly responded and at that point in time, the appellant had challenged the authorities of Indian Olympics Association to facilitate an entry into the premises and she would help in finding out the information sought when the respondent authorities stated that they are not in possession of any reports published by the Committees headed by Shri B.S. Ojha and two other Committees. This statement was denied by the appellant and submitted that now she is not in a position to find out any documents in the premises of the respondent authority as it is nearly two years since she retired.
3. The Commission after hearing the submission of the parties finds that the reports referred by the appellant in her RTI application is an important document and must and should be kept in public domain. Further, the Commission directs the respondent authority to make a note on this issue and provide a comprehensive report to the appellant as to what kind of efforts were made to search out for the documents within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order. Disposed of.
Sd/-
(M. Sridhar Acharyulu)
Central Information Commissioner
Citation: Arvind Bala v. PIO, Indian Olympic Association in CIC/SAOIN/A/2017/190525 Decided on : 25.05.2017