PIO denied information relating to various awards claiming that mere conjunctures cannot be construed as corruption and DRDO was an exempt organisation u/s 24(1) - CIC: Director should institute an inquiry to ascertain whether corruption is involved
24 Mar, 2014
PIO denied information relating to various awards & related issues claiming that mere conjunctures cannot be construed as corruption and DRDO was an exempt organisation u/s 24(1) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: - CIC: Director INMAS, DRDO should institute an inquiry into the issue raised by the appellant, wherein he has quoted the example of Administration Assistant having been given a cash reward even though she was on long leave, and to ascertain whether any alleged corruption is involved; if allegation of corruption is substantiated, then the information sought should be provided
FACTS
Vide RTI dt 22.2.13, appellant had sought information on 7 points relating to various awards and related issues.
2. PIO vide letter dt 7.4.13, informed the appellant that DRDO is exempt from provisions of the RTI Act u/s 24(1) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: and hence information was denied.
3. An appeal was filed on 22.3.13.
4. AA vide order dt 30.4.13, observed that mere conjunctures cannot be construed as corruption and disposed of the appeal. A reference was also made to the CIC order CIC/LS/A/2012/001084 dt 21.8.12.
5. Submissions made by the appellant and public authority were heard. CPIO referred to the AA order and the fact that the DRDO was an exempt organisation u/s 24(1) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: of the RTI Act. The appellant submitted that the matter relates to alleged corruption.
DECISION
6. The Commission is of the view that the Director INMAS, DRDO should institute an inquiry into the issue raised by the appellant in his RTI and first appeal, wherein he has quoted the example of Smt. Pushpa, Administration Assistant having been given a cash reward even though she was on long leave, and to ascertain whether any alleged corruption is involved. In case the Director finds that corruption as raised by the appellant is substantiated, then the information sought should be provided. The above directions be complied with within one month from date of receipt of the order and a response provided to the appellant under intimation to the Commission. The appeal is disposed of.
(Rajiv Mathur)
Central Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Krishan Gopal Khurana v. Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Services in File No.CIC/LS/A/2013/001825/RM