Information regarding guidelines, notifications of onetime settlement scheme as per RBI guidelines pertaining to NPA accounts was denied u/s 8(1)(d) & 8(1)(j) - PIO: policy regarding one time settlement is for internal purpose only - CIC: appeal dismissed
13 Apr, 2014ORDER
Facts:
1. The appellant, Shri V. K. Dhiman, has submitted RTI application dated 15 November 2011 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Punjab National Bank, Patiala; seeking information regarding the guidelines, notifications etc. of onetime settlement scheme of the respondent bank according to the RBI guidelines pertaining to NPA accounts for the period from 1991 to date.
2. Vide order dated 1 December 2011, CPIO denied the information under 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; & section 8(1)(j) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information: Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person. of the RTI Act, 2005. Not satisfied by the CPIO’s reply, the appellant preferred appeal dated 19 December 2011 to the first appellate authority (FAA). No order has been passed by the FAA in this case.
3. Being aggrieved and not satisfied by the above response of the public authority, the appellant preferred second appeal before the Commission.
4. The matter was heard today via videoconferencing. The appellant, Shri V.K. Dhiman, was not present at the hearing. The respondent, Shri A. C. Atri, Chief Manager, PNB, CPIO, made submissions from Patiala.
5. Shri Atri submitted that information regarding circulars/guidelines is available at the website of the Punjab National Bank. Further, the Bank’s policy regarding one time settlement is for internal/confidential purpose only and the disclosure of the same to appellant would attract section 8(1) (d) of the RTI Act.
Decision Notice
6. The Commission upholds the CPIO’s decision. The appeal is dismissed.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri V. K. Dhiman v. Punjab National Bank in Appeal: No. CIC/SM/A/2012/000270/MP