Replies to all RTI-applications should be sent by sent by speed post/registered

Central Information Commission1

 The Commission directs them to ensure
that replies to all RTI-applications are henceforth sent by speed post/registered
post.


No.CIC/OK/C/2008/00809
Dated: 31 December 2008
Name of the Appellant : Shri Girish Mittal
                    
Name of the Public Authority : Northern Railway

Background:
Shri Girish Mittal of Mumbai filed an RTI-application with the Public
Information Officer, Northern Railway, New Delhi, on 15 April 2008, seeking
information/documents relating to total area of land owned by Northern
Railway outside the New Delhi station on Paharganj side and also on Ajmeri
Gate side.
2.
Not getting any reply from the PIO, the Appellant approached the
Central Information Commission with a complaint on 30 July 2008.
3.
The Bench of Dr. O.P. Kejariwal, Information Commissioner, heard the
matter on 16 December 2008.
4.
Shri Mohar Singh, Sr. DMM & PIO, Shri Vikram Singh, Sr. DCM, Shri
Samarjeet Singh, CLA and Shri Parveen Kumar, represented the Respondents.
5.
The Appellant, Shri Girish Mittal, was present through audio conference.
Decision:
6.
The Commission heard both the sides and noted that the Respondents
had provided a point-wise reply to the RTI-application submitted by the
Applicant on 15 April 2008. The reply was also sent in time, that is, on 16 May
2008 but according to the Appellant who joined the hearing through audio
conference, he had not received the reply at all. The Respondents presented
before the Commission a copy of the reply duly sent by the Railway Postal
Service with a stamp of despatch.
7.
The Commission now directs the Respondents to send this reply by speed
post/registered post to the Appellant by 15 January 2009. The Applicant is free
to come back to the Commission, in case he finds the reply incomplete or
incorrect. There have been instances where the Appellants have complained
that they had not received the reply sent by the Respondents.
In fact,
yesterday too in a case dealing with the Railways (Nos. CIC/OK/C/2008/273 &
274) there was a similar complaint and the Respondents replied that they had
sent the reply through ordinary mail. The Commission directs them to ensure
that replies to all RTI-applications are henceforth sent by speed post/registered
post.
8.
The case is thus disposed of.
Authenticated true copy:
(O.P. Kejariwal)
Information Commissioner
(G. Subramanian)
Assistant Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri Girish Mittal, 1305 Dhruv, Ashok Van, Borivali East, Mumbai, 400066
2. The Public Information Officer, Northern Railway, Divisional Railway
  Manager's Office, State Entry Road, New Delhi
3. Officer Incharge, NIC
4. Press E Group, CIC

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