CIC asks for info on PM146;s Relief Fund

Chief Information Commissioner CIC Wajahat Habibullah on Wednesday held that though the Prime Minister8217;s National Relief Fund...

Chief Information Commissioner CIC Wajahat Habibullah on Wednesday held that though the Prime Minister8217;s National Relief Fund PMNRF could not be categorised as an independent public authority, its information is held by the Prime Minister8217;s Office PMO as a public authority and as such the latter was obliged to make the information accessible to a citizen under the RTI Act.

Complainant Mohammed Muzibur Rehman in August 2006 had sought information regarding amounts deducted from salaries of employees of the South Eastern Coalfield Ltd. for donation to the PMNRF and whether the same could be utilised elsewhere. He had expressed doubts as to whether the donations had actually been deposited in the PM8217;s Relief Fund, expressing apprehensions of embezzlement.

The PMO, in its reply in November 2006, said the PMNRF was not a 8220;public authority8221; and, as such, there was no statutory obligation to provide information under the RTI Act and that the PMO was not aware of the break-up and methodology of the collections.

Dissatisfied with the reply the complainant moved a second appeal before the CIC. In response to a notice issued by the commission, the PMO replied that when the application was received, it was of the view that the PMNRF was not covered under the purview of the RTI Act and accordingly not bound to provide relevant information.

Subsequent to the reply given to Rehman, it was observed by the CIC that the PMNRF was covered under the purview of the RTI Act and replies were given accordingly.

As regards the information about the contributions towards the PMNRF, the PMO said contributions from the PSUs/companies towards the PMNRF were either received directly from them or through the ministry/department concerned. The PMNRF is involved only from the point of receipt of contributions, and it is up to the donor organisation to ensure that collections are forwarded to the PMNRF.

The Director, PMO, also pointed out that this was the first time that it was being brought to his notice that there were contributions purportedly made in addition to those that have been acknowledged in responses sent to the application for information.

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The CIC after hearing the parties ordered that Director, PMO, who is directly concerned with administering the PMNRF will enquire within 15 days into the suspicions now raised by the complainant.