New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to make fresh efforts to trace records related to the establishment of its Information Rights (IR) division and provide those to an RTI applicant, failing which it must submit an affidavit declaring the records unavailable.
The direction came while disposing of a second appeal arising from an RTI application seeking copies of office orders relating to the constitution, reconstitution or transfer of the IR division in the DoPT, along with details of files in which such orders were issued.
The applicant approached the CIC after officials informed that the requested information was not available in their records.
During the hearing, representatives of both the administration division and the IR division of the DoPT maintained that no such records could be traced.
In its submissions before the commission, the DoPT said the allocation and distribution of work within a department is a routine administrative matter and “does not, by itself, necessitate the constitution of a separate division or specific orders thereon”.
It further stated that efforts were made to locate records relating to the constitution of the IR division, but “the same could not be traced”.
Explaining the present role of the division, the department said the IR division deals with “the establishment matters of CIC, annual programme on propagation of RTI Act and matters related to RTI Online Portal”, while matters related to the Right to Information (RTI) Act are handled by the IR-II section.
Observing that the appellant disputed the department’s claim regarding non-availability of records, Information Commissioner Jaya Varma Sinha directed the DoPT to diligently search its database and records and provide the information within three weeks if the documents are located.
The commission said if the records are still not found, the CPIO concerned shall submit an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper, affirming their non-availability, and furnish a copy to the appellant. PTI MHS RC
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