CIC pulls up PNGRB over RTI reply on safety, inspections of IGL pipeline work

During the hearing, PNGRB indicated that it had requested information from IGL and subsequently forwarded what it received to the applicant. IGL maintained that it had supplied all available factual data to the regulator and raised questions about the applicability of the RTI Act to the company, a matter then pending before the Delhi High Court.

Information Commissioner Khushwant Singh Sethi determined that PNGRB's response was inadequate, emphasizing that the regulator itself is the custodian of most of the requested information and should not solely rely on IGL. The Commission highlighted that several queries directly concerned PNGRB's regulatory functions, including safety guidelines and enforcement actions against IGL for lapses.

PNGRB informed the Commission that regulations exist for addressing safety failures and stated that no complaints had been lodged concerning the pipeline work in question. The regulator also noted that its technical division oversees project quality and completion.

Consequently, the CIC directed PNGRB to furnish a revised, consolidated reply that includes factual information, relevant guidelines, regulations, and website links. It also instructed PNGRB to clearly state if any information was unavailable or cite applicable exemptions if disclosure was denied. The appeal was disposed of, with the issue of IGL's status as a public authority under the RTI Act to be addressed separately based on a recent Delhi High Court ruling.