UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. vs KARTAR SINGH

Judgment text excerpt

$~J * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment pronounced on : 09.10.2025 + W.P.(C) 13531/2018 UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Ms. Arunima Dwivedi (CGSC) along with Ms. Monalisha, Ms. Himanshi Singh, Mr. Sainyam, Advocates. versus KARTAR SINGH .....Respondent Through: Mr. Saurabh Seth Advocate (Amicus Curiae) along with Ms. Sumeera Seth, Ms. Neelampreet Kaur and Mr. Abhiroop Rathore, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA JUDGMENT 1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner assailing the order dated 14.05.2018, passed by the Central Information Commission (hereinafter “CIC”) in Application no. CIC/AB/C/2016/000073, whereby a penalty of Rs.8,000/- was imposed upon the petitioner no.2/Deputy Director (Establishment), Shri Prabir Roy, (CPIO) on the ground of alleged denial of requisite information under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (“RTI Act”). 2. The factual background, as set out by the petitioner, is that the respondent herein had filed an online RTI application dated 29.08.2015 seeking copies of Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) proceedings wherein Shri K.K. Sharma, the respondent himself (Shri Kartar Singh), and Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(C) 13531/2018 Page 1 of 7 By:ABHISHEK THAKUR Signing Date:08.10.2025 15:37:28 Shri S.C. Bajpai were considered for absorption in Group 'A' III. The respondent also sought details regarding the date and year of absorption in Class-I for each of the aforementioned individuals, and expressed willingness to pay the necessary fee for the documents as per applicable rules under the RTI Act. 3. On 07.10.2015, the CPIO issued a reply to the said RTI Application of the respondent. The said reply reads as under: "Information that is available at