Sunday, 9 June 2013

Seeking Information on How CGDA prepared DGL which became the Implementing Order



BY SPEED POST - ACK Due

S Y Savur                                                                                           141, Jal Vayu Towers,
Cell: +91 9449676278                                                                      Beniganahalli,
            +91 9688782227                                                                  Indira Nagar (PO),
Email: sysavur@gmail.com                                                            Bangalore-560038

SYS/RTI/CGDA/2013                                                                                 25th April 2013

To,                                                                                         
(1) CPIO (Audit Wing),
Shri S Murali Krishnan IDAS
Senior ACGDA (IT)
Office of the CGDA,                                                 
Ulan Bator Road, Palam                             
New Delhi – 110 010

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: APPLICATION DATED 13.03.2013
Sir,

1.         Please refer to No. CPIO/AT/HQ/2013/1/1063 dated 15.04.2013, received by me 22nd April 2013 in which an incomplete reply to my request for information dated 13th March 2013 has been sent.

2.         Vide Para 2 of OM No. 1/8/2007-IR dated 8th November 2007, and Para 2 of Annexure to O.M. No. 1/69/2007 dated 27.2.2008, The RTI Act 2005 authorises any applicant to request for information that includes records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form…”

3.         Annexure to O.M. No. 1/69/2007 dated 27.2.2008, vide Para 2 authorises any applicant to request for information that includes records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form…” Ibid OM vide Vide Para  8 states “Only such information is required to be supplied under the Act which already exists and is held by the public authority or held under the control of the public authority. The
CPIO is not supposed to create information; or to interpret information; or to solve the problems raised by the applicants; or to furnish replies to hypothetical questions,” And further in Para 19 states “Therefore, the applicant should not be asked to give justification for seeking information or to give details of his job etc. or to submit application in any particular form.”

4.         ACGDA (IT), in U.O. No. AT/1/1483-Army/X/(PC)/IV dated 15.4.2013, (attached to ibid CPIO, CGDA letter dated 15th April 2013), has wrongly interpreted my request in strong language i.e. “this Section is of the view that the applicant is demanding an explanation.” The tone and wordings appear to be for intimidating the undersigned from seeking information authorised by the RTI Act 2005. Further, the ACGDA (IT) stated in reply to para 2(p) states that under provision of the RTI Act, 2005, “the PIO is not obliged to furnish reply to question like “why.” The complete request reads “(p) If not, please provide information on why para 6 (a) (ii) was included as such a decision would over-rule the approval of the Cabinet to the Report of the 4th CPC” because neither the Cabinet approval of the 4th CPC report mentioned this methodology and nor was it in Chapter 30.2 of the 4th CPC Report. Since information as per RTI Act also included opinion, it is legitimate to request information on why para 6 (a) (ii) was included.

5.         Since the particulars of the First Appellate Authority was not provided in CPIO, Office of CGDA letter dated 15th March 2013, the ACGDA (IT) Audit-I Section compels the undersigned, vide Para 27 of the OM referred in para 2 above, to lodge a complaint directly with the Central Information Commission, forwarding copies of the application of the undersigned dated 13th March 2013 and the remarks of the ACGDA (AT-I) attached vide CPIO, CGDA letter dated 15th April 2013, for necessary action by the Central Information Commission.

6.         Notwithstanding the above, my request for information dated 13th March 2013 is still pending and information has not been provided.

7.         Please intimate the additional amount to be remitted so that I might receive the full and complete information expeditiously as I regret that I will not be able to travel to New Delhi. I am a senior citizen with border-line hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and impaired glucose tolerance. Further, travelling from Bangalore for a visit the office of the CGDA located near the Palam airport, New Delhi, to inspect all relevant files involves disproportionately more expenditure than the likely cost of copies/ photocopies or CDs of the information I have sought.  

8.         I, therefore, regret that a visit Office of the CGDA to inspect documents is unviable for the above reasons and also is not mandatory. In this connection please see the following sections of the RTI Act 2005: -

Section 4. Obligations of public authorities. — “Every public authority shall— (a) maintain all its records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner and the form which facilitates the right to information under this Act and ensure that all records that are appropriate to be computerised are, within a reasonable time and subject to availability of resources, computerised and connected through a network all over the country on different systems so that access to such records is facilitated.”

Section 5…… “Provided that where an application for information or appeal is given to a Central Assistant Public Information Officer or a State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, a period of five days shall be added in computing the period for response specified under sub-section (/) of section 7.

(5) (3) Every Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall deal with requests from persons seeking information and render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking such information.

(5) (4) The Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, may seek the assistance of any other officer as he or she considers it necessary for the proper discharge of his or her duties.

(5) (5) Any officer, whose assistance has been sought under sub-section (4), shall render all assistance to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, seeking his or her assistance and for the purposes of any contravention of the provisions of this Act, such other officer shall be treated as a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be.

Section 6 which states inter alia “….. If a citizen asks for certain information which is with three or four public authorities, then the PIO of the first public authority shall provide the information of the part, which lies in his subject jurisdiction, then transfer the other parts to the PIOs of the relevant public authorities. While transferring the application’s parts, he should be careful in identifying the public authorities on the basis of the applicant’s subject matter”…..  

ANNEXURE to OM No.1/69/2007-IR dated the 27th February, 2008 – “Assistance Available to CPIO, Para 14, “The Central Public Information Officer may seek the assistance of any other officer as he or she considers necessary for the proper discharge of his or her duties. The officer, whose assistance is so sought by the CPIO, would render all assistance to him. Such an officer shall be deemed to be a Central Public Information Officer and would be liable for contravention of any. provisions of the Act the same way as any other Central Public Information Officer. It would be advisable for the CPIO to inform the officer whose assistance is sought, about the above provision, at the time of seeking his assistance, and
Item 13 from FAQs of RTI Act 2005: -The Act does not permit rejection of an application simply because it relates to a large number of documents. Under Section 7 (9), information shall be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would ‘disproportionately’ divert the resources of the public authority. A PIO can request the applicant to visit his/her office personally and inspect the required documents or files. However, the PIO shall communicate the date and time to the applicant for such inspection. The PIO has to determine and justify what constitutes ‘disproportionately divert resources’.
An applicant can ask for 20 to 30 different kinds of information in the same application and cannot be asked to apply afresh. If the information published under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Act is comprehensive and proper information systems are maintained to enable such publication, even if an applicant requests for many pieces of information, the same can be provided to the applicant without much difficulty. Appropriate record management systems need also to be instituted.
9.         I respectfully request that the consequent cost calculations, total amount payable, mode of payment and the payee(s) etc be intimated for my speedy compliance so that I receive the information expeditiously.

10.       In case doubts still persist about this applicant having to visit the office of the CGDA, I enclose photocopies of similar request to visit and subsequent forwarding of information by MoD, without this applicant having to visit MoD.  

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,
Sd/---
(S Y Savur)

* * * *
Office of the CGDA, Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt – 10
No. CPIO/AT/HQ/2013/1/1063                                                  Dated: 22/05/2013
To

            Shri S Y Savur
            141, Jal Vayu Towers,
            Beniganahalli,
            Indira Nagar (PO),
            Bangalore – 560038

            Subject: Seeking Information under RTI Act 2005.

Reference your application dated 13th March 2013 and this office letter of even No. dated 15/04/2013 

* * * * * *

            With reference to above communications, please refer to your subsequent application dated 25th April 2013. Your ibid application was brought to the notice of the Section dealing with the subject matter. The Section vide their note bearing No. AT/1/1483-Army/X(PC)/V dated 21/05/2013 (copy enclosed) has intimated that correspondence alongwith notings on the issues with regard to your initial application dated 13th March 2013 runs into 255 pages. Therefore, you may furnish applicable fee prescribed under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 @ Rs 2/- per page payable to “Accounts Officer CGDA at New Delhi” so that photocopies of the 255 pages could be provided.

Encls: (One page)                                                                             Sd/-------------------------
                                                                                                            (S. Murali Krishnan)
                                                                                                            Sr ACGDA/CPIO

* * * * *
Office of the CGDA, Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt – 10

Audit –I Section

            Subject: Seeking information under RTI Act, 2005 : Shri S Y Savur
            Reference: Shri S Y Savur subsequent application dated 25th April 2013

* * * * *

            With reference to the initial application dated 13th march 2013 from Shri S Y Savur, the parawise information/reply has already been given vide this Section UO note of even No. dated 15/04/2013. Keeping in view the large magnitude of correspondence/records on the subject matter, it was difficult to identify on behalf of the applicant the exact desired papers/documents out of the lengthy records on the subject issue. Therefore, the applicant was offered for inspection of relevant files so that he can have copies of the particular documents he wants to have. However, in keeping with the compulsion shown by the applicant in Para 7 of the subsequent application, following is intimated for information of the applicant. 

2.                  The queries in the initial application dated 13th March 2013 revolves around implementation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dated 04/09/2012 on Rank Pay matters. This Order has been implemented vide MoD letter No. 34(6)2012-D(Pay/Services) dated 27th December 2012 (copy already furnished). With regard to the request of the applicant vide application dated 13/03/2013, it is intimated that the correspondence alongwith corresponding notings portion as requested runs into 255 pages. Therefore, the applicant may be asked to forward copying charges @ Rs 2/- per page so that the above records/documents could be supplied to him.

Sd/-----------------
ACGDA (AT-I)
RTI Cell (AT) (Local)
UO Note No. AT/1/1483-Army/X (PC)/V dated 21/05/2013

* * * * *

BY SPEED POST - ACK Due

S Y Savur                                                                                           141, Jal Vayu Towers,
Cell: +91 9449676278                                                                      Beniganahalli,
            +91 9688782227                                                                  Indira Nagar (PO),
Email: sysavur@gmail.com                                                            Bangalore-560038

SYS/RTI/CGDA/2013                                                                                 7th June 2013

To,                                                                                         
(1) CPIO (Audit Wing),
Shri S Murali Krishnan IDAS
Senior ACGDA (IT)
Office of the CGDA,                                                 
Ulan Bator Road, Palam                             
New Delhi – 110 010

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: APPLICATION DATED 13.03.2013
Sir,

1.         Please refer to No. CPIO/AT/HQ/2013/1/1063 dated 15.04.2013, received by me 22nd April 2013 in which an incomplete reply to my request for information dated 13th March 2013 has been sent and my letter of even reference dated 25th April 2013 for which have replied vide your letter of even reference dated 22nd May 2013 mailed by you on 27th May 2013 which I received on 6th June 2013 – both dates indicated by Post office franking on the envelope by respective POs.

2. As demanded, I am enclosing a DD for Rs 510/- @ Rs 2 per page for 255 pages payable at New Delhi to the Accounts Officer, CGDA.

3. It is requested that the pages be numbered so that you and I can reconcile to the fact that 255 pages are sent and received.

4. For my record please acknowledge by a brief letter the receipt of the above Demand Draft.
           
Yours truly,
Sd/-------
(S. Y. Savur)
Applicant

Enclosed: Demand Draft Number  960316 dated 7th June 2013 issued by State Bank of Travancore, PB Branch, Indira Nagar, Bangalore-560038 payable as stated in Para 2 above 



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