Central Information CommissionAshutosh Bhardwaj vs State Bank Of India on 12 July, 2021Author:Suresh ChandraBench:Suresh Chandraके   ीय सूचना आयोग\n                                 Central Information Commission\n                                      बाबा गंगनाथ माग ,मुिनरका\n                                  Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka\n                                    नई  द ली, New Delhi - 110067\n\n\nि तीय अपील सं या / Second Appeal No.CIC/SBIND/A/2018/170529\nAshutosh Bhardwaj                                 ... अपीलकता /Appellant\n\n                                            VERSUS\n                                             बनाम\nCPIO: State Bank of India,\nGarhwal.                                                         ... ितवादीगण/Respondents\n\nRelevant dates emerging from the appeal:\n\nRTI : 02.06.2018                   FA       : 30.07.2018           SA     : 30.11.2018\n\nCPIO : 15.06.2018                  FAO : 14.08.2018                Hearing : 27.05.2021\n\n\n                                            CORAM:\n                                      Hon'ble Commissioner\n                                    SHRI SURESH CHANDRA\n                                           ORDER(12.07.2021)1.          The issues under consideration arising out of the second appeal dated 30.11.2018\ninclude non-receipt of the following information raised by the appellant through his RTI\napplication dated 02.06.2018 and first appeal dated 30.07.2018:-(i)       िदनां क ०५.०३.२०१६ को Term Loan, Cash Credit व FITL खातों म' कुल िकतनी\n\n               रािश की दे नदारी शे ष थी ?(ii)      िदनां क ०५.०३.२०१६ से िदनां क ३१.०३.२०१६ तक Loan, Cash Credit व FITL खातों म'\n\n               िकतने 2पये जमा 6ए ह9 ?(iii)     उपरो; ऋण खाते के स>भ@ म' सरफेसी एB, २००२ के अंतग@त Eी सुय@िजत िसंह Fारा\n\n               हGाHIरत धारा १३(२) व १३(४) के नोिटस की सMािपत Nितिलिप द' IPage 1 of 5(iv)     Eी सुय@िजत िसंह Fारा हGाHIरत सरफेसी एB २००२ के धारा १३(२) व १३(४) के\n\n              नोिटस (उपरो; ऋण खाते के स>भ@ म') ऋण को कब व िकस माQम से भेजे गए\n\n              कृपया सूचना द' I2.      Succinctly facts of the case are that the appellant filed an application dated\n02.06.2018 under theRight to Information Act, 2005(RTI Act) before the Central Public\nInformation Officer (CPIO), State Bank of India, Garhwal, seeking aforesaid information.\nThe CPIO vide letter dated 15.06.2018 replied to the appellant. Dissatisfied with this, the\nappellant filed first appeal dated 30.07.2018. The First Appellate Authority vide order\ndated 14.08.2018 disposed of the first appeal. Aggrieved by this, the appellant filed a\nsecond appeal dated 30.11.2018 before this Commission which is under consideration.3.            The appellant has filed the instant appeal dated 30.11.2018 inter alia on the\ngrounds that the respondent deliberately did not furnish the notices issued by Shri\nSuryajit Singh under provisions ofSARFAESI Act. The appellant requested the\nCommission to direct the CPIO to provide the complete information and take necessary\naction as perSection 20 (1)of the RTI Act.4.      The CPIO replied vide letter dated 15.06.2018 replied that the A/c xxxx8620 was\ntransferred to Stress Assets Resolution Branch (SARB), New Delhi. The FAA advised\nthe CPIO to transfer the application to concerned underSection 3. Finally, the concerned\nCPIO furnished the information vide their letter dated 8.10.2018.Hearing on 10.12.2020:4.1.    The appellant and on behalf of the respondent Ms Vandana Gusain, Manager, State\nBank of India, Haridwar, attended the hearing through video conference.\n\n4.2.    The Commission paused the following directions on 7. 01. 2021:"6.      The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case,\n        hearing both the parties and perusal of records, observes that the reply given is\n        incomplete, evasive and ambiguous. The appellant asked for the details of the cash\n        limit, amount deposited, copies of notices issued under provisions of SARFAESIPage 2 of 5Act including the one issued by Shri Suryajit Singh. A period of over 2 years has\n       elapsed and the requisite information/point-wise reply has not been provided to the\n       appellant. In view of this, Shri Gagan Kumar Shrivastav, present CPIO, as well as\n       CPIO as on 15.06.2018, are directed to show cause as to why penalty under\n       provisions ofRTI Actmay not be imposed upon each of them for not furnishing the\n       information. Shri Gagan Shrivastav is given the responsibility to serve a copy of\n       this order upon the then CPIO and secure his written explanations. All written\n       explanations/submissions must be uploaded on the Commission's web portal\n       within 21 days."Hearing on 27.05.20215.     The appellant and on behalf of the respondent Shri Rajinder Singh, CPIO and Ms\nVandana Gusain, Manager, State Bank of India, Haridwar, attended the hearing through\naudio conference.5.1.   The appellant inter alia submitted that the respondent did not provide the requisite\ninformation. The appellant alleged that the procedure laid down under provisions ofSARFAESI Actwere not duly followed by the respondent and that he had been\nprosecuted in violation of principles of natural justice. The relevant documents including\ncopies of notices were not issued to him under provisions ofSARFAESI Actas well asRTI Act.5.2.   The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that they had\nprovided point-wise information pertaining to the cash credit account, FITL account, term\nloan, copies of notices issued on 01.04.2015 and notices dated 04.07.2015 and\n30.04.2016 issued undersection 13 (4)of SARFAESI Act to the appellant vide letter\ndated 20.01.2021. The proof of dispatch of the notices were also furnished to the\nappellant and the same were uploaded on the Commission's web portal. The respondent\nfurther submitted that the matter was earlier transferred to Stress Assets Resolution\nBranch(SARB), New Delhi. Therefore, the delay caused in furnishing the information\nwas inadvertent on their part.Page 3 of 56.    The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing\nboth the parties and perusal of records, observed that the respondent duly complied with\nthe directions of the Commission and provided point-wise information vide letter dated\n20.01.2021. Perusal of records revealed that that the respondent uploaded the documents\non the Commission's web portal. However, they had not furnished a copy of the same to\nthe appellant. In view of the above, the respondent is directed to provide copy of the\nreply to the appellant again within two weeks from the date of receipt of this order. The\nwritten explanations submitted by the respondent are reasonable and satisfactory.\nTherefore, in absence of any mala fide on the part of the CPIO it may not be appropriate\nto initiate penal action undersection 20 (1)of the RTI Act against them. The show cause\nnotices issued to Shri Gagan Kumar Shrivastav, present CPIO, as well as CPIO are\nhereby dropped. Accordingly, the appeal is disposed of.Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.Sd/-(Suresh Chandra) (सुरेश चं ा)\n                                                                                       ा)\n                                               Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु )\n                                                               दनांक/Date: 12.07.2021\nAuthenticated true copy\n\n\nR. Sitarama Murthy (आर. सीताराम मूत )\nDy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक)\n011-26181927(०११-२६१८१९२७)\nAddresses of the parties:CPIO :1. Sh. RAJENDRA SINGH (C.P.I.O)\nSTATE BANK OF INDIA, DEHRADUN\nADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE,\nREGION- 3, 1, NEW CANTT.ROAD, DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND2. Sh. RAJENDRA SINGH (C.P.I.O)\nSTATE BANK OF INDIA, DEHRADUN\nADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE,\nREGION- 3, 1, NEW CANTT.ROAD, DEHRADUN,\nUTTARAKHAND (for forwarding\nto the then C.P.I.O as on\n25-07-2018, Sh. GAGAN KUMAR\nSRIVASTAV and the then C.P.I.OPage 4 of 5of HARIDWAR BRANCH )\n\nAshutosh BhardwajPage 5 of 5