CentralInformationCommission,NewDelhi

FileNo.CIC/SH/A/2014/001112
RighttoInformationAct2005UnderSection(19)

Dateofhearing

25thJune2015

Dateofdecision

25thJune2015

NameoftheAppellant

ShriHemantaPanda,
S/oLateNandaKishorePanda,
AtTikrapara,PO&DisttBalangir,
Odisha767001

NameofthePublic

Authority/Respondent

CentralPublicInformationOfficer,
NationalArchivesofIndia,
Janpath,NewDelhi110001

TheAppellantwaspresentattheNICstudio,Balangir.

OnbehalfoftheRespondents,ShriSohanPalSingh,Asstt.DirectorofArchives,
waspresentinperson.

InformationCommissioner

ShriSharatSabharwal

ThismatterpertainstoanRTIapplicationdated22.3.2013filedbytheAppellant,
seekinginformationonsevenpointsregardingassassinationofMahatmaGandhi. The

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applicationwasmadetotheCPIOoftheMinistryofHomeAffairs,whotransferredit,on
5.4.2013,totheNationalArchivesofIndiaandtheDirectorofGandhiSamritiandDarshan
SamitiunderSection6(3)oftheRTIAct. TheCPIOoftheNationalArchivesofIndia
informedtheAppellanton18.4.2013thathemightvisittheNationalArchivestoconsult
theavailablerecords,tofindouttheinformationrequiredbyhim,inkeepingwiththe
provisionsofthePublicRecordsAct,1993andPublicRecordsRules,1997.
2.

Themattercameuptoday. TheAppellantstatedthaton29.4.2013,theGandhi

SamritiandDarshanSamitiprovidedhimtheinformationonallthepoints,exceptforthe
information on point No.1 and partial information on point No.6. At point No.6, the
Appellanthadenquiredwhetherpostmortemofthebodywasperformedaccordingtothe
law. HestatedthattheGandhiSamritiandDarshanSamitiinformedhimthatnopost
mortemwasperformedasperthewishesofthefamily. Heisnotsatisfiedwiththis
informationashehadenquiredwhetherapostmortemwasperformedasperlawandhe
hasbeengiventheinformationregardingnopostmortemhavingbeenperformedasper
thewishesofthefamily. Inourview,thequeryoftheAppellantatpointNo.6stands
answeredandnofurtherinformationisdueinthiscase. AtpointNo.1,theAppellant
soughtacopyofthefinalchargesheetfiledinthecasealongwithacopyoftheFIR.
Accordingtohim,theGandhiSamritiandDarshanSamitiinformedhimthattheydonot

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havethisinformationbutthattheFIRwasregisteredbytheTughlakRoadPoliceStation.
TheAppellantinsistedthathehadsoughttheinformationfromMHAandtheyshould
provideittohim.Accordingly,wedirecttheCPIOofMHAtomakeanothersearchtosee
whether any information regarding point No.1, mentioned above, is available in that
MinistryorwiththeTughlakRoadPoliceStation. Ifso,theCPIOshouldprovidesuch
information,asbecomesavailable,totheAppellantfreeofcost.Incase,theinformation
inquestionisnotavailableinMHA/TughlakRoadPoliceStation,theCPIOofMHA
should inform the Appellant accordingly in writing. The above directives of the
CommissionshouldbecarriedoutbytheCPIO,MHAwithinthirtydaysofthereceiptof
thisorder,underintimationtotheCommission.
3.

As regards the reply of the CPIO, National Archives of India, we uphold his

decisiontoasktheAppellanttoconsulttherecordsavailableattheNationalArchivesin
keepingwiththeprovisionsofthePublicRecordsAct1993andPublicRecordsRules,
1997. Inthiscontext,theCommissionsdecisionNo.CIC/BS/A/2013/000081/SHdated
11.3.2014alsorefers.TheAppellantisatlibertytoavailhimselfofthefacilitiesofferedby
theNationalArchivesofIndiatoconsulttheirrecords.
4.

With the directions in paragraph 2 and the above observations, the appeal is

disposedof.

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5.

Copiesofthisorderbegivenfreeofcosttotheparties.TheRegistryisdirectedto

forwardacopyofthisorder,besidestheusualrecipients,totheCPIOconcernedofthe
MinistryofHomeAffairs.

Sd/
(SharatSabharwal)
InformationCommissioner
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.

(VijayBhalla)
DeputyRegistrar

CIC/SH/A/2014/001112