The Respondent shared with the commission that “Inquiries are initiated and where any discrepancy is found, the office meets the ends of justice and necessary punishments under Efficiency & Discipline Rules have been awarded to the accused employees”. The Respondent further said that “It is requested that the request of the applicant regarding provision of confidential record may kindly be regretted in the light of Para-7 of the act “The Right of Access to Information Act 2017” or applicant may please be requested to contact with our Controlling Office i.e., Office of the Controller General of Accounts”.
This commission has already held through its different Orders that information pertaining to finalised enquiry reports is public information. As such, this information is not only to be provided to citizens when requested but public bodies are obligated to proactively publish through their web sites all finalised enquiry reports as required under Section 5 (1) (i) of the Act.