Arun Kumar Jain v. Central Public Information Officer, State Bank Of India

1. The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), SBI (Formerly State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur), Branch Krishi Mandi, Malpura, Distt. Tonk seeking information on three points pertaining to the cheque book issued to him in respect of his account no. 6100xxxxx39, including, inter-alia, (i) a copy of the application/requisition slip for issue of cheque book including, the details of the receiver of the cheque book, and (ii) a copy of the application submitted to the Branch for ‘Stop Payment’ of cheque nos. 566503 and onwards.

2. The appellant filed a second appeal before the Commission on the grounds that complete information has not been provided to him by the CPIO. The appellant requested the Commission to direct the respondent to provide complete information to him.

Hearing:

3. The appellant Shri Arun Kumar Jain and the respondent Shri Gurdayal Meena, Chief Manager, SBI Regional Office-4, Kota Region, Rajasthan, attended the hearing through video-conferencing.

4. The appellant submitted that he had never applied for issue of cheque book. However, the bank has provided extracts from the cheque book register showing that a cheque book was issued to him. Hence, the bank should provide a copy of his application requesting issuance of a cheque book.

5. The respondent submitted that due to merger of associate Banks with SBI, all the records relating to the appellant's RTI application were not traceable. Hence, the requisite documents could not be provided to the appellant at the relevant point of time. However, the records have been since traced and hence, the copies of the application forms submitted by the appellant for issue of cheque book, stop payment of cheque and for opening of the account as sought for by the appellant shall be provided to him.

DECISION

6. The Commission, after hearing the submissions of both the parties and perusing the records, directs the respondent to provide correct and complete information as sought by the appellant in his RTI application to him within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order under intimation to the Commission.

7. With the above observations, the appeal is disposed of.

8. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.