Central Information Commission, New Delhi

File No.CIC/SM/A/2013/000282
Right to Information Act-2005-Under Section (19)
Date of hearing
Date of decision
:
:
27/06/2013
27/06/2013
Name of the Appellant : Smt. Munni Devi,
W/o Late Sh. Kailash Ram, Nayak Basti, G
S Road, Gogagate, Bikaner- 334001
Rajasthan
Name of the Public Authority : Central Public Information Officer,
Rajya Sabha Secretariat,
Parliament House/Annexe, New Delhi
-110001
2. Central Public Information Officer,
Lok Sabha Secretariat,
Information Cell, Parliament House
Annexe, New Delhi -110001
3. Central Public Information Officer,
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Room No. 194, North Block, New Delhi -
110001
4. Central Public Information Officer,
Ministry of Law & Juctice,
Legislative Department, Room No. 411 'A'
Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi -
110001.
The Appellant was represented by Shri Deep Chand.
On behalf of the Respondent, the following were present:-
(i) Shri Kushal Sarkar, CAPIO, LSS,
(ii) Shri K. Sona, US, LSS,
CIC/SM/A/2013/000283
(iii) Shri M.K. Khan, CPIO, RSS,
(iv) Shri Sanjeev Chandra, Deputy Director, RSS,
(v) Shri S.K. Chiekara, DS & CPIO, LD,
(vi) Shri B.N.S.V.S.K. Bavgar Raju, Suptd (Lega), LD,
(vii) Smt. Praveen Kumari Singh, Director (SR), MHA,
(viii) Shri B.S. Bhandari, RO
Chief Information Commissioner : Shri Satyananda Mishra
2. We heard both the parties.
3. The Appellant had, in two separate RTI applications, sought some
details about the amendments to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Order (Amendment) Act 1956 and 1976. The CPIO of the Ministry of
Parliamentary Affairs had transferred her applications to both the Lok Sabha
and the Rajya Sabha Secretariats. It appears that these applications were
further transferred to a whole host of Government of India Ministries. The CPIO
concerned from several of these public authorities had provided her with a
variety of information. Not satisfied, she had preferred appeals which had also
been disposed of by the respective Appellate Authority.
4. During the hearing, from the submissions of the Appellant, it appeared
that she would be interested to get the hard copy of the debates held in both
the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha while discussing and passing these
amendments both in 1956 and also in 1976. She would also be interested in
getting the copies of all the documents which had been placed in the House in
connection with these amendments. We understand that neither House retains
the documents placed before it in connection with any Bill beyond one year of
CIC/SM/A/2013/000283
passing of the Bill. Therefore, one thing is certain that the copies of the
documents placed in the House in connection with these amendments would no
longer be available in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. However, the
debates are available both in the form of hard copy and also as uploaded in the
website of the respective house. As far as the Rajya Sabha is concerned, it has
already provided the copies of the debates for the 1956 amendment to this
Order but the Lok Sabha has not provided either of the debates in hardcopy
form. Instead, they have advised the Appellant to either see these debates in
the website or in the library of the Lok Sabha itself or in the nearest State
Assembly. Since the Appellant has difficulty in accessing this information either
from the website or from any of these libraries, it would be appropriate if the
photocopy of the debates are provided to her.
5. We direct the CPIO of the Lok Sabha to provide to the Appellant within
15 working days of receiving this order the photocopies of the debates in
respect of the amendment to the Order in question in both 1956 and 1976
separately, free of charge.
6. The appeal is disposed off accordingly.
7. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Chief Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied against
application and payment of the charges prescribed under the Act to the CPIO of this
Commission.
CIC/SM/A/2013/000283
(Vijay Bhalla)
Deputy Registrar
CIC/SM/A/2013/000283