Misplaced RTI application costs SBI Rs.1000/=

[ganpat1956]

Pawan Kumar Nirola of Malerkotla, received a reply for his RTI application after a delay of 10 months from SBI Chandigarh. Aggrieved over the delay, the complainant sent a complaint to CIC , seeking for invoking the penal provisions of the RTI Act against the concerned official.

The CPIO submitted that the RTI application had been misplaced in the bank and as soon as it was traced, the information sought by the appellant had been provided and there was no deliberate or intentional delay. He also submitted that explanation has been called for from the concerned official who had delayed the information and action would be taken against him as per rules.

The Commission did not impose any penalty on the erring official as the bank has already proposed taking action against the said official. However, the Commission awarded that the Bank shall pay a sum of Rs 1000 to the complainant for the efforts that he had made in pursuing his complaint.

Decision No. 1050/ICPB/2007 dated 30/10/2007 on Appeal from Mr. Pawan Kumar Nirola Vs State Bank of India

[colnrkurup]

A well-handled case in every respect except that I could not see the reason for the Appellant not making a First Appeal after 30 days. In case First was made the excuse of the CPIO that it was misplaced does not stand the test.

[ganpat1956]

Colonel Sir,
Not every applicant is a serious RTI activist well versed with the various provisions of the Act. It is just possible in this case that appellant would have sat quiet like most ordinary citizens of this country, after making his initial application and that some other activist might have guided him to take recourse to Sec.18 after the reply was received with a 10-month delay.

[karira]

MALERKOTLA
Rs 1,000 paid to advocate: In compliance to the orders of the Central Information Commission (CIC), the local branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday paid Rs 1,000 to Pawan Kumar Nirola, a local advocate, for his efforts in pursuing his application the under RTI Act to the CIC. The consumer was seeking action against the erring official for the delay of nearly 10 months in responding to his application under the Act. The CIC further said it was not going to impose any penalty on the erring official as the bank had already proposed taking action against him in its reply.

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Regional Briefs