Information regarding circular on Claim Investigation & its validity period etc was denied u/s 8(1)(d) - PIO: It is an administrative circular for the internal use of the LIC employees for plough back scheme – CIC: Provide the effective date of circular
31 Oct, 2015ORDER
1. The appellant Shri Jayanarayan Muna, submitted RTI application dated 28.05.2014 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Life Insurance Corporation of India, Berhampur seeking copy of circular on plough book (conversion of claim amount to N.B. Deposit), the year up to which the said circular was in force; whether J.N. Muna, the then ABM(S) of Nabarangpur was an authorized signatory for signing the claim cheque, the department in which Shri Rajesh Patnaik was working through four points.
2. The CPIO vide letter dated 01.07.2014 denied information on point Nos. 1, 2 and 3 under the provisions of Section 8(1)(d) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information; of the RTI Act and provided information on point 4. Dissatisfied with the reply of the CPIO, the appellant filed an appeal on 28.07.2014 before the first appellate authority (FAA). The FAA vide order dated 03.09.2014 concurred with the decision of the CPIO.
3. Thereafter the appellant filed the present appeal before the Commission.
4. The matter was heard by the Commission. The appellant did not attend the hearing in spite of notice of hearing having been sent to him. The respondents stated that the appellant had sought information previously regarding circular on Claim Investigation and its validity period, Office Order for whether he was a Claim Enquiry Officer or not in his application and the same was denied by the CPIO. The appellant who served as AAO, LIC of India was dismissed from service by the disciplinary authority on the ground of misappropriation. The appellant had filed a suit before the Hon’ble High Court of Odisha vide WP©/12893 of 2008 which is subjudice. The Circular sought at point 2 relating to plough back scheme is an administrative circular for the internal use of the LIC employees. According to the plough back scheme the policyholder at the time of maturity of policy, had to send consent letter by registered post for plough back of his policy.
5. The Commission observes that the respondents had provided information permissible under the RTI Act. However, the CPIO is directed to provide the effective date of the circular in question with reference to point 2 to the appellant within one week of receipt of this order. The appeal is disposed of.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Jayanarayan Muna v. Life Insurance Corporation of India in Appeal: No. CIC/MP/A/2014/002306