Applicant seeks bank compliance details

Chayan Ghosh Chowdhury filed an RTI request seeking information on how public sector banks implemented the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.

What the applicant wanted to know

He sought details of banks registered on the SHe-Box portal, annual returns submitted under the law, penalties imposed for non-compliance and court cases involving aggrieved women.

The applicant's core claim

Citing the Supreme Court's decision in Aureliano Fernandes vs State of Goa, Chowdhury claimed banks had failed to constitute Internal Committees as required by law.

Ministry says information incomplete

The applicant contended the Ministry's response was incomplete and that he had not been given a hearing despite specifically requesting one in his first appeal.

CIC finds procedural failure

Information Commissioner P.R. Ramesh noted the Ministry said the first appeal had been disposed of, but no copy of the order was placed on record for verification.

“In these circumstances, the Commission is unable to verify the contents of the order stated to have been passed by the FAA or ascertain whether the Appellant's request for a personal hearing was considered.”

CIC orders fresh adjudication

The Commission remanded the appeal to the Ministry's First Appellate Authority for reconsideration after allowing both parties to present their cases and issue a reasoned order.

Applicant's next step available

If dissatisfied with the First Appellate Authority's decision, the applicant may file a second appeal under Section nineteen, subsection three of the RTI Act.