RTI Query - What does the term ‘house-hold’ mean?
15 Jun, 2012
Background
A government doctor was posted in a Government Allopathic Hospital at Lalpani while his wife was living along with the children at Kotdwar as she was serving as a lecturer in Government Inter College. The distance between the two places was about 11 kms. He claimed that since he is forced to live separately from his family he sought a LPG connection which was denied to him as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which defines the term ‘house-hold’. He further submitted that the two establishments cannot manage with one gas connection and the word ‘house hold’ should be interpreted widely and two gas connections be sanctioned in a situation like this. He filed an application under RTI raising a very interesting and complex question of law i.e. what is the definition of the word “house-hold” as per the notification? The respondent submitting the copy of notification explained that “house hold” means a family consisting of husband, wife and unmarried children, and as per the prevailing rules, “house hold” is entitled to only one LPG domestic connection.
View of CIC
The Central Information Commission (CIC) noted that the appellant has raised an interesting legal issue and the word “house hold” is required to be properly construed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The Commission directed the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to consider the issue raised by the appellant and have an appropriate decision made by the competent authority.
Citation: Dr. K.K. Dhasmana v. IOCL in File No.CIC/LS/A/2011/003040
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2012/CIC/368
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