GOPAL DAS BANSAL v. Life Insurance Corporation of India

Factual and Procedural Background

The Appellant, Mr. Gopal Das Bansal, filed an RTI application on 30.12.2021 seeking information regarding the expenditure incurred by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, specifically related to the Jan Kalyan Fund. The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) responded on 24.01.2022. Dissatisfied with the response, the Appellant filed a First Appeal on 03.03.2022; however, the order of the First Appellate Authority (FAA) is not on record. Subsequently, the Appellant filed a Second Appeal before the Central Information Commission, which was received on 10.08.2022. The hearing took place on 21.06.2023, and the decision was delivered on 27.06.2023.

Legal Issues Presented

1. Whether the CPIO is obliged to provide detailed information regarding LIC's expenditure on CSR activities, specifically related to the Jan Kalyan Fund and associated scholarship and welfare schemes?
2. Whether the information sought by the Appellant concerning CSR funds allocated for welfare in tribal areas such as Shahdol should be furnished in the spirit of transparency and accountability under the RTI Act, 2005?

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant's Arguments

• The Appellant submitted that no information had been provided despite the RTI application.
• The RTI sought information on LIC’s expenditure on CSR/Jan Kalyan Fund.
• He argued that LIC sponsors multiple scholarship schemes and welfare programs funded by CSR funds, and thus the respondent should have data on these.
• Emphasized the importance of such information for tribal areas like Shahdol, which require welfare funding for deprived classes.

Respondent's Arguments

• The Respondent stated that LIC does not have a CSR fund named Jan Kalyan Fund.
• Consequently, they could not provide the specific information sought by the Appellant.

Table of Precedents Cited

No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Commission considered the submissions of both parties and noted the Appellant’s insistence on the importance of CSR information, especially given LIC's involvement in multiple scholarship and welfare schemes funded by its CSR allocations. The Respondent’s claim that no specific Jan Kalyan Fund exists was acknowledged, but the Commission emphasized the need for transparency and accountability under the RTI Act, 2005. It directed the CPIO to re-examine the RTI application and provide detailed, point-wise information within 30 days. The Commission underscored the significance of providing information related to CSR initiatives, particularly for tribal and marginalized communities such as those in Shahdol, highlighting the public interest in accessibility of such data.

Holding and Implications

The Commission issued the following ruling:

The appeal is disposed of with a direction to the CPIO to furnish detailed information in accordance with the RTI Act, 2005, within 30 days.

This decision mandates the provision of information regarding LIC’s CSR expenditures and associated welfare schemes, thereby reinforcing the principles of transparency and accountability. The order directly affects the parties by requiring the Respondent to comply with the RTI request more comprehensively. No new precedent was established beyond the application of existing RTI principles to the facts of this case.