Information regarding cases hearing before National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission etc. was sought - CIC: PIO directed to publish the details of the cases in which the decision are reserved beyond the period of 45 days on the website of the NCDRC
24 Mar, 2016Information sought:
Appellant sought information on 7 points regarding no. of cases waiting for the next date of hearing to be set for more than 90 days, no. of cases adjourned 6-10 times/11-15 times/more than 15 times in the last 3 years, no. of times costs awarded/cost waived for permitting adjournment in the last 3 years and other related information.
Relevant facts emerging during hearing:
Appellant is not present while the respondent is present. The appellant sought the above information by filing an RTI application dated 10.07.2013. CPIO vide his reply dated 31.07.2013 provided point wise information to the appellant. The FAA disposed of the first appeal vide order dated 06.09.2013 with observation that the CPIO is not expected to create or to interpret or to solve the problems raised by the appellant and asked the appellant to inspect the record on any working day. Being not satisfied with the order of the FAA, the appellant filed the present appeal before the Commission. Respondent submits that the cause list is uploaded on their website and the status of the cases is also available on their website. The information sought by the appellant is not maintained in the prescribed format, so he was requested to inspect the relevant records but he never turned up. On a query by the Commission as to whether they maintain the records of the cases in which the decisions are reserved beyond the period of 45 days, respondent replied in the negative.
Decision:
After hearing the respondent and on perusal of record, the Commission under its powers u/s 19(8)(a)(iii) directs the CPIO to publish the details of the cases in which the decision are reserved beyond the period of 45 days on the website of the NCDRC before 1st May 2015. This would be in fulfilment of its obligation under Section 4(1) (b) (xvii) of the RTI Act. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
(Yashovardhan Azad)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri J.S. Murthy v. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Case No.CIC/YA/A/2014/000079