Information regarding total time allotted for lunch, tea break etc. for employees & whether they could go outside - AIR: No movement register maintained for employees; no instructions available regarding putting the photographs on social media
24 Aug, 2016ORDER
1. Shri Sudhir Sharda, the appellant, vide RTI application dated 9.12.2014, sought information with regard to total time allotted for lunch, tea break etc. for employees, whether they were required to have tea and refreshments within the building of the organization or they could go outside, what was the time and duration of lunch break etc., through 8 points.
2. The CPIO, vide letter dated 22.01.2015, provided a point wise reply while requesting the appellant to pay Rs 2/- per page for the 28 pages of the copy of the inspection report as referred in point no. 8 of the RTI application. Dissatisfied with the reply of the CPIO, the appellant filed an appeal on 17.01.2015 before the first appellate authority (FAA) with a request to provide information. The FAA had not adjudicated on appellant’s appeal till the date of submission of the instant appeal to the Commission. The appellant approached the Commission with a request to provide information free of cost, conduct inquiry under section 20(1)(2) of the Act and pay cost of Rs 5000/- under section 19(8)(b) In its decision, the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, has the power to require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered; of the Act.
3. The matter was heard by the Commission. The appellant stated that he had not been given correct information on any of the points as he had been told that there was no canteen in the premises of the All India Radio. No employee movement register was there, whether the photographs of any place of AIR premises could be taken and sent through social media, like, facebook, what’sapp, etc. He added that he had been told that no call register was maintained for noting down the personal calls made by the employees while adding that it was not possible that such record was not maintained by the respondents. The respondents stated that they had responded as per the information/instructions available with them. They had no canteen in the premises and they had clearly stated that there was no arrangement for tea, etc. in the premises. They did not maintain any movement register during working hours to note as to when the employees left office and came back again. Similarly, no instructions were available with them regarding putting the photographs of AIR buildings on social media. They added that they had given information as available on record with them and had offered to provide him information sought regarding the inspection details of the centre at Jodhpur for the years 2011-12 and 2012- 13.
4. The Commission finds no reason to disbelieve the information given by the CPIO/FAA. The Commission, therefore, upholds the decision of the respondents. The appeal is disposed of.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Sudhir Sharda v. Prasar Bharati (DG: AIR) in Appeal No . CIC/YA/A/2015/001185/MP