Room No. 308, B-Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066 File No. CIC/PB/A/2008/01168/LS (Heard at Puducherry) Appellant : Shri B.Chandramohan Public Authority : Pondicherry Agro Service & Industries Corporation (PASIC) (through Shri R.Pougajendy, PRO (APIO) & Shri N.Manugar) Date of Hearing : 9.7.2009 Date of Decision : 9.7.2009 Facts By his letter of 23.5.08, the appellant had sought information on 03 paras viz., (i) whether the Company Secretary of PASIC was arrested in a cheque forgery case, as reported in the media on 10.5.08; (ii) whether any action is being taken by PASIC against the persons involved in cheque forgery case; and (iii) whether PASIC has sent any report to the Govt. in regard to cheque forgery case etc.
2. The PIO had declined to disclose information on the ground that this was not permissible in law, vide letter dt.5.6.08. The Appellate Authority had also dismissed the first appeal on the ground that RTI Act does not cast any obligation on the Public Authority to answer queries with prefixes such as why, what, when and whether.
3. The present appeal is directed against the orders of PIO & AA.
4. The matter was heard on 9.7.2009. The appellant is present. The public authority is represented by the officers named above. The parties were heard. On a thoughtful consideration of the matter, I am of the clear opinion that information has been wrongly denied to the appellant. In the matter in hand, the appellant has sought certain information on the basis of a newspaper report and for this purpose he had no other option but to raise queries with prefixes such as why, what, when and whether. He could not have solicited the information by any other means. Viewed thus, the approach adopted by the PIO and the AA does not appear to be correct. DECISION
3. Hence, the orders of the PIO and AA are set aside and Shri R. Pougajendy, PRO (APIO) is hereby directed to provide parawise information to the appellant in three weeks time. (M.L. Sharma) Central Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied against application and payment of the charges prescribed under the Act, to the CPIO of this Commission. (K.L.Das) Assistant Registrar Tele:011-2671 7353/Fax 011 2610 6276 Copy to :
1. Shri B.Chandramohan No.43, Kannagi Nagar Villupuram Main Road Vilianur Puducherry 605 110
2. The PIO Puducherry Agro Services & Industries Corporation Ltd Agro House, Thattanchavady Puducherry
3. The Appellate Authority Puducherry Agro Services & Industries Corporation Ltd Agro House, Thattanchavady Puducherry