New Delhi, February 13 The Central Information Commission has criticized the SAI for failing to disclose information on complaints and actions taken against the Roller Skating Federation of India, stating that the information cannot be said to be solely within the federation's control.
The Commission was referring to the transfer by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) of queries regarding actions taken by the SAI against the skating body to the Roller Skating Federation of India (RSFI) itself.
The SAI could not pass responsibility to the federation for matters that fall squarely within its own official records, the Central Information Commission (CIC) noted.
In a recent order, Information Commissioner P R Ramesh examined an RTI application in which the applicant had sought details of actions taken by the SAI on complaints submitted against the Roller Skating Federation of India (RSFI), along with documents or reports related to such actions, and abstracts or summaries of complaints received by the SAI over several financial years.
In its response, the SAI stated that queries regarding actions taken on complaints did not pertain to its concerned division and were therefore transferred to the RSFI.
The Commission found this approach untenable, observing that information on actions taken by the SAI against the skating sports federation "cannot be said to be solely within the control of the Roller Skating Federation of India."
"Such information pertains to the official records of the Sports Authority of India," the order stated, adding that statistical details on complaints received and disposed of must also be available with the authority.
The applicant had also requested details of grants and financial assistance released by the SAI to the RSFI, year-wise, and records showing how complaints were dealt with.
Regarding funding, the SAI disclosed that it had sanctioned over Rs 53 lakh to the federation between 2019-20 and 2021-22, but declined to provide further information, stating that it was not required to "create information" or draw inferences beyond what was available on record.
The CIC directed the SAI to re-examine the RTI application and furnish a revised, point-wise reply on actions taken, complaint records, and statistical information within four weeks, with a compliance report to be filed thereafter. It also noted that the public information officer was absent during the hearing and sought a written explanation for the lapse.
In a related case involving the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the RSFI, the Commission reiterated that furnishing information only at the stage of the second appeal "defeats the very spirit of the RTI Act" and directed the federation to provide the correct and legible annexures sought by the applicant.