Monday, 20 May 2013

Mockery of the Law - Right to Information Act 2005



We have filled six applications to the following authorities to get information under Right to Information Act 2005.
Concerned Department: SBI, Raila Branch, Distt. Bhilwara & Bais (22) Godam, Jaipur
Particulars of information required: Ref: - Loan Account No’s. (i) 30790086642 (TL Account); (ii) 30790105601 (TL Account) and (iii) 30790238803 (CC Limit) M/s Rosebay Agro Farms Pvt. Ltd. from  Raila, Distt. Bhilwara Branch.    
i.          Details of information required:
(1)  Vetting Report of Smt. Sabiha Akhatar, Rural Business Group, L.H.O. New Delhi (conducted in Nov, Dec, 2009) pertaining to the loan application/proposals filed by M/s Rosebay Agro Farms Pvt. Ltd. 4, Vishnu Path, Satya Vihar, Lal Kothi, Jaipur- 302015, with reference to the captioned loan accounts of the applicant company (The loan application/proposals were submitted at Bias Godown, SBI, Branch, Jaipur Raj).
(2)  Observation of Shri D.B. Siwach, Chief Manager, Agriculture Rural Business Group, L.H.O. New Delhi on the Vetting Report of Smt. Sabiha Akhatar, Rural Business Group, L.H.O. New Delhi (conducted in Nov, Dec, 2009) pertaining to the loan application/proposals of M/s Rosebay Agro Farms Pvt. Ltd. 4, Vishnu Path, Satya Vihar, Lal Kothi, Jaipur- 302015 with reference to the captioned loan accounts of the applicant company (The loan application/proposals were submitted at Bias Godown, SBI, Branch, Jaipur Raj).
(3)  All recommendations and internal communications of the Bank on the vetting report of Smt Sabiha Akhatar, Rural Business Group, L.H.O. New Delhi (conducted in Nov, Dec, 2009) pertaining to the loan application/proposals of M/s Rosebay Agro Farms Pvt. Ltd. 4, Vishnu Path, Satya Vihar, Lal Kothi, Jaipur- 302015 with reference to the captioned loan accounts of the applicant company (The loan application/proposals were submitted at Bias Godown, SBI, Branch, Jaipur Raj).
(4)  Vetting report undertaken in March 2010 by the vetting officer appointed from SBI Kota, Rajasthan subsequent to the vetting report of Smt. Sabiha Akhatar, Rural Business Group, L.H.O. New Delhi (conducted in Nov, Dec, 2009) pertaining to the loan application/proposals of M/s Rosebay Agro Farms Pvt. Ltd. 4, Vishnu Path, Satya Vihar, Lal Kothi, Jaipur- 302015 with reference to the captioned loan accounts of the applicant company (The loan application/proposals were submitted at Bias Godown, SBI, Branch, Jaipur Raj).
(5)  Report/observation/sanction/recommendations etc. Submitted in March April 2009 by Shri S.C. Verma, C.M. Agriculture, Rural Business Group, and L.H.O. New Delhi pertaining to his on the spot observation and verification of the Dairy Project, at Raila  of M/s Rosebay Agro Farms Pvt. Ltd. from Raila, Distt. Bhilwara Branch with reference to the captioned loan accounts of the applicant company.
(6)  Examination of the entire file pertaining to the Loan A/c No’s. (i) 30790086642 (TL Account); (ii) 30790105601 (TL Account) and (iii) 30790238803 (CC Limit) M/s Rosebay Agro Farms Pvt. Ltd. from Raila, Distt. Bhilwara Branch
ii.        Period for which information asked for : March-2009 to April 2010

                  Regional Manager,
                 Information & Public Relation,
                 State Bank of India, Region-II,
                 Nehru Palace, Tonk Road,
                 Jaipur-302015.

1st time we applied for the information we require from here.
S.No.
Date
Particulars


1
17-Apr-2012
06 Nos. of Applications  to RTI SBI R-II Jaipur   ( Regarding Photo Copy of Documents )





&
S.No.
Date
Particulars


1
21-Apr-2012
Letter from SBI R-II Jaipur ( Reply of RTI dated 17 -04-2012, 6 Nos. of Applications))





We have applied here because earlier our Range was II in Jaipur, recently SBI restructured the Ranges & created new range III in Udaipur. Some of our documents / information are still lying in Jaipur moreover 22 Godown Branch is still in range II but they don’t care & making us football to Udaipur.
2.    Regional Manager,
Information & Public Relation,
State Bank of India,
Regional Business Office, Region-III,
65, Hitawala Complex,
ShikshaBhawan Circle,
SwaroopSagar Road,
Udaipur-313001.
1st time we applied for the information we require from here.
S.No.
Date
particulars


1
17-Apr-2012
06 Nos. of Applications to RTI SBI R-III Udaipur ( Regarding Photo Copy of Documents )

                                                &
S.No.
Date
particulars


1
3-May-2012
Letter from SBI R-III Udaipur ( Reply of RTI dated 17 -04-2012, 6 Nos. of Applications)

To safeguard the culprits they declined to give information on the basis that we are third party. Even I am director, guarantor & authorized signatory in all documents with the bank.    
3.    State Bank of India,
Business & Operations Performance Monitoring Deptt.
G.M. (Network-3)
Secretarial Local Head Office,
11, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi- 11001
We have filled 1st appeal here with the hope of justice.
S.No.
Date
particulars


1
6-Jun-2012
06 Nos. of Appeal to GM SBI Network-III New Delhi ( against  Order dated 03-05-2012 SBI R-III Udaipur  Regarding our RTI ,6 Nos. of Applications dated 17 -04-2012, )

                                                &
S.No.
Date
particulars


1
11-Jul-2012
Letter from GM SBI Network-III New Delhi (  Order against 06 Nos. of Appeal dated 06-06-2012 )

They have shielded the misconduct of their subordinates & making mockery. GM was the only authority for these systems to call all the concerned files from every department & give us all information we required.
4.    The Central Information Commission,
August Kranti Marg,
Bhikaji Kama Place,
New Delhi
We have filled an appeal against the order of The GM III.
S.No.
Date
particulars


1
11-Aug-2012
06 Nos. of Appeal to The Central Information Commission Delhi ( against  order dated 11-07-2012 of GM SBI Network-III New Delhi  )

5.    Regional Manager,
Information & Public Relation,
State Bank of India,
Regional Business Office, Region-III,
65, Hitawala Complex,
Shiksha Bhawan Circle,
SwaroopSagar Road,
Udaipur-313001.
We again filled applications for seeking information 2nd time here.
S.No.
Date
particulars


1
11-Jun-2012
06 Nos. of Applications to RTI SBI R-III Udaipur ( Regarding Photo Copy of Documents )

6.    State Bank of India,
Business & Operations Performance Monitoring Deptt.
G.M. (Network-3)
Secretarial Local Head Office,
11, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi- 11001
                                                                                     
S.No.
Date
particulars


1
26-Jul-2012
06 Nos. of Appeal to GM SBI Network-III New Delhi (against violation of the rights conferred by the Act within the statutory time limit of 30 days.  Regarding our RTI ,6 Nos. of Applications dated 11 -06-2012 to SBI R-III Udaipur )

They have decline our matter on dated 13.08.12 vide letter no. GM (NW3) appeal (RTI) /609-614/2243.

After suffering from all the problems and hurdles created by the vindictive Bank Officials I had no option but to file a final appeal to the Central Information Commission, New Delhi for the hope of justice.

1.    That Shri Suneel Dutt Goyal in the capacity of the Director of the Complaint Company viz. M/s Rosebay Organic Foods Pvt. Ltd., Jaipur filed six applications all dated 17th April 2012 seeking information referred therein, so as to enable them to assist this Hon’ble Chair to deliver a judicious order in the matter. The said applications were filed both in Region-2 and Region-3 of State Bank of India, located at Jaipur and Udaipur, respectively. (Photo copies enclosed herewith as Annexure 30-A, 30-B, 30-C, 30-D, 30-E, and 30-F.)      73   That the applications pertaining to Region-2, SBI, Jaipur was transferred to Region-3 vide letter no. AOJ/R-2/202 dated 21.04.2012 (Photo copy enclosed as Annexure 31.)



2. That subsequently all the six applications dated 17th April 2012 were rejected unlawfully and erroneously by the Region-3, SBI, Udaipur, vide their order no. RBO/R-3/INSD/14/704 dated 03.05.2012, illogically and irrationally observing that “the bank is under an obligation to maintain secrecy of its customer’s affairs and is not required to divulge the same to a third party which is held in a fiduciary relationship involving commercial confidence”

(The Photo copy of the letter is enclosed as Annexure 32),




3.    That in view of the fact that they are inclined upon to conceal information from the Director of the Company who was also operating the accounts of the Company, the documents pertaining to the Company’s account, is self-revealing  of its illegality. Your good-self will appreciate that Director of a Company has all the right to know any fact pertaining to the accounts of the Company with the Bank.                   

4.    That aggrieved by the aforesaid order dated 03/05/2012, appellant preferred six appeals for the six applications dated 17/April/2012, before the General Manager, State Bank of India, Network-III, L.H.O. New Delhi. Photo copies of all the six applications is enclosed here with as Annexure 39-a, 39-b, 39-c, 39-d, 39-e, 39-f respectively. In the said appeals it was inter-alia submitted that
a)    The Learned information officer has seriously erred in failing to appreciate that Director of a Company seeking for any information pertaining to the Company’s account, by no edge of imagination be deemed to be the third party. The stipulation pertaining to the same in the impugned order is merely an eye wash. Factually it is an endeavor to hide and conceal the documents which are revealing of the misdeeds of the Bank and its employees.
b)    That the documents pertaining to the opening and execution of the loan account with reference to which the information was sought for were extended solely under the signature of the appellant’s. Thus the respondent at this juncture cannot take the plea that he was not aware of this vital fact. The action of the information officer was in-fact a deliberate one.
c)    Moreover the nature of the information sought for, it is apparent that it can even be extended to a third party under the scope and purview of the ‘Right to Information Act 2005’. The denial of our most deserved right provided by the legislature, is criminal and may please be dealt with accordingly.
d)    The Act of the information officer is beyond doubt intended to obstruct and deprive the appellant of the information sought for.  This is gross illegality and warranted to be checked by passing of deterrent order against the Learned Respondent.           
5.    That the said appeals were disposed of by the General Manager, State Bank of India, Network-III, L.H.O. New Delhi vide his order dated 11/07/2012 passed vide file on illegal grounds inter-alia observing that:-
          “After carefully examining the request made in the application and the reply submitted by the CPIO it is observed that the CPIO has correctly declined the information. Every Director can not obtain the information regarding the company unless he is authorized by the Board of the Company to do so. The Bank recognizes its customers by their signatures on record of the Bank who is authorized to operate the account. Appellant has now submitted a resolution with the appeal which he should have submitted along with the application. Though it is difficult to exactly pin point the information desired by the appellant, he may be allowed to inspect the file of the company available at the Branch after verification of the signatures on the resolution with the record of the Bank, at mutually agreed time. Copies of the documents desired by him may also be provided to him after obtaining the cost as per the RTI Act. The process should be completed with in 15 working days from the receipt of this order.”
Photo copy of order enclosed as Annexure-40
6.    Aggrieved by the aforesaid order dated 11/07/2012, appellant preferred six appeals against the same, pertaining to the six original applications dated 17th  April 2012, before the Hon’ble Central Information Commission, August Kranti Marg, Bhikaji Kawa Palea, New Delhi. Photo copies enclosed here with as Annexure 41(a),41(b), 41(c), 41(d), 41(e), & 41(f), and inter alia submitted that :-
a)    That the information sought for by the appellant was very specific and categoric. The directions of the appellate authority to the subordinate authority to allow the appellant to examine the file were merely an eye wash. It would be apposite to mention here that a number complaints filed by the appellant against some of the local SBI officers are pending before various forums is pending, for which these documents are required to assist those forums for delivery of justice. Moreover it is a highlighted case well within the knowledge all over the SBI circle. The learned appellate authority colluded to deprive the appellants of the justice. The impugned order apparently suffers from the vice of prejudice and malafide state of mind.
           
b)    In the instant case the learned first appellate authority    has committed a gross illegality and passed the impugned order without even reading the grounds of appeal. In this connection your kind attention is invited to the Grounds-C of the appeal made before the learned first appellate authority where-in it was very categorically brought to his notice that, the documents pertaining to the opening, execution and day to day working including the withdrawals and deposits in the loan account with reference to which the information was sought for, were extended and operated solely under the signature of the appellant viz. Suneel Dutt Goyal. In these circumstances the denial of information to him on the pretext of him being a third party, is nothing but illegal and part and parcel of the ongoing conspiracy against the aggrieved appellant.
   
c)    On the one hand he blindly and arrogantly fails to take note of the fact that the appellant was the signing authority from the very onset in the loan account under reference and on the other hand he deemed to have denied the document sought for on the amazing pretext that, “The bank recognizes its customers by their signatures on record of the bank who are authorized to operate the account”. If he would have bothered to have read grounds of appeal or would have afforded a personal hearing to the appellant, he would have refrained from making such an absurd comments.
d)    It is evident that the first appellate authority along with his subordinate has colluded to deprive the appellant of the document sought for, very well knowing that, it will bring on surface the misdeeds and malpractice in SBI. Thus when in compliance of his directions to inspect the file, appellant contacted the person concern i.e., Regional Manager Information & Public Relation, State Bank of India, Udaipur, Rajasthan, he was ill-treated. His language was altogether disgusting and unparliamentarily.
e)    Orders has been passed by the first appellate authority knowing that, firstly its is practically impossible for the appellant without the cooperation of the Bank to locate the department section, branch etc, of the Bank where these documents are filed Secondly the officials at the local level would not help and assist the appellant to trace and locate the file where the said documents were placed in their Banking filing system.
7.    That the aforementioned appeals are pending before the Hon’ble Central Information Commissioner.

No comments:

Post a Comment