ORDER
1. The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 11.01.2024 seeking information on the following points:
"From the desk of Brand Ambassador Viyana Berwal, in good faith, under observation of Smt. Sukanya Berwal, Commissioner of Education, Scouts and Guides for Animals and Birds, along with OIPA: Indian People for Animals, via her grandpa Naresh Kadyan:
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Annual inventory of performing animals, captivity within Zoo for display purposes without registration with AWBI. Meat animal displayed in these establishments, as per FSSAI, against decision and policy.
Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Second Amendment Regulations, 2023:
Rule (5) in regulation 2.5, -
(a), in sub-regulation 2.5.2, in clause 8 relating to Fresh or Chilled or Frozen Beef,
(i) in sub-clause (2), in item (a), after the words including buffaloes occurring at the ends the words Mithun (Bosfrontalis) shall be inserted-
(ii) in sub-clause (4), after the words and figures from 1% to 3% occurring at the ends the words and figures and for Mithun meat, the fat content shall be ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 %. shall be inserted.
Whereas F. No. 11-4/2000/CZA, dated 7/10-12-2001, circulated the decision, removal of common animals from display in zoo, identifying 20 species, still these animals are not removed, besides FSSAI notified as meat animals, fit to slaughter for human consumption as diet.
Hence,
1. Supply complete list with present status, species gender age wise, copies of all recognised establishments with the APEDA, and other legal identity of rural and urban local bodies, allowed Mithun slaughtering, within outside natural habitat of this species.
2. Status reports of all complaints lodged with action taken, copies needed to follow up.
3. Coordination between CZA, AWBI, APEDA, FSSAI, NTCA, NBA with WCCB, supply copies.
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4. Complete list of exporters of Mithun meat, with the bio product of Mithun, and details of Mithun being state animals of Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh, allowed commercial slaughtering for gain.
5. Complete details and all communications and reply with the Union Animal Husbandry Department, APEDA, FSSAI, any State Establishments, along with the excess census of Mithun slaughtering. etc."
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 07.02.2024 and the same is reproduced as under :-
| S. No. |
Question |
Reply |
| 1. |
Supply complete list with present status, species gender age wise, copies of all recognized establishments with the APEDA, and other legal identity of rural and urban local bodies, allowed Mithun slaughtering, within outside natural habitat of this species. |
DAHD to reply. The details of recognized establishment with APEDA is available with the below link: https://apeda.gov.in/apedaweh site/Announcements/List_of_Ab attoirs_meat.htm |
| 2. |
Status reports of all complaints lodged with action taken, copies needed to follow up |
Question not clear. |
| 3. |
Coordination between CZA, AWBI, APEDA, FSSAI, NTCA, NBA with WCCB, supply copies. |
No information available |
| 4. |
Complete list of exporters of Mithun meat, with the bio- product of Mithun, and details of Mithun being state animals of Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh, allowed commercial slaughtering for gain. |
DAHD to reply |
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| 5. |
Complete details and all communications and reply with the Union Animal Husbandry Department, APEDA, FSSAI, any State Establishments, along with the excess census of Mithun slaughtering. |
DAHD to reply. |
| 6. |
OIPA: Indian People for Animals along with Scouts and Guides for Animals and Birds, wants to conservate Mithun, around Delhi, being non-milking semi-cow, instead buffalo, any permission required, or any Govt. scheme to promote. |
DAHD to reply. |
| 7. |
We can display Mithun Yak, for educational purposes, all around India, for this any permission required, besides display for education purpose, exempted under 27b of PCA Act, 1960. Naresh Kadyan, Master Trainer in Animal Welfare to Govt. of India. |
DAHD to reply. |
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Complainant filed a First Appeal dated 09.02.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 08.03.2024 upheld the reply given by the CPIO and serial no. 4 to 7, he advised the appellant to seek the information from Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
4. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint registered on 28.03.2024.
5. The Complainant remained absent. On behalf of the respondent Dr. Deepak D.A, Assistant Manager, APEDA, attended the hearing In-Person. Page 4 of 6
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6. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the complainant sought information on Mithun meat, however, the respondent APEDA does not deal with the aforesaid Mithun Meat and hence, the CPIO informed the complainant that the DAHD to reply.
7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the respondent and perusal of records, observes that the complainant had failed to mention the specific period for which the information is sought in point no. 1 to 5 and further sought queries/clarifications in point no. 6 to 7. Hence, the Commission finds that the sought points does not fall under the definition of information U/s 2(f) of the RTI Act. However, vide the instant complaint, the complainant alleged that the CPIO at that time has not transferred his RTI Application to the Public Authority Concerned if the sought information is not available with the respondent. Therefore, the incumbent CPIO at that time Mr. Meena Singh, Assistant General Manager, PIO, APEDA, is hereby directed to send a detailed written explanation to the Commission for not transferring the RTI Application of the complainant to the Public Authority concerned at that time - both through post and via uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper-compliance/add within 15 days of the receipt of this order. Accordingly, the Complaint is disposed of.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
(Khushwant Singh Sethi) (खुशवन्त स िंह ेठी) Information Commissioner ( ूचना आयुक्त) दिन ांक/Date: 05.01.2026
Authenticated true copy
S. K. Chitkara (एस. के. दिटक र ) Dy. Registrar (उप-पांजीयक)
011-26107026
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Addresses of the parties:
1. The CPIO Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, 3rd Floor, NCUI Building 3,
Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, Opp. Asiad Village, New Delhi - 110016
2 The FAA, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, 3rd Floor, NCUI Building 3,
Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, Opp. Asiad Village, New Delhi - 110016
3. Shri. Naresh Kadyan Page 6 of 6
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Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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