Facts of the Case

Shri Hiralal Das,General Secretary,Lower Assam Sankardev,Madhabdev,Damodordev,Haridev Satra Sangrashan Vikash Sangha submitted an application before the Chief Information Commissioner on 5.12.06 stating that he submitted a petition dated 10.10.06 to the Department of cultural Affairs seeking information under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The information sought for are as follows:
1. Minutes of the meetings of the Satras Preservation & Development Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, Shri C.K. Das, lAS
2. The amount of money sanctioned by the said committee and released
3. On what basis 850 Satras were selected by the said committee for inclusion in the proposal submitted to the Government of India.
4. Copies of the replies given to Shri Gunin Das, MLA in the Assam Legislative Assembly on 27.8.2005
5. How many Satras, Devalayas, Thans, Namgarhs etc getting annual grants-in-aid from the Government of Assam
6. Home many Satras, Thans, Namgarhs have padasila (foot print) of Shri Srimanta Sankardev, Shri Madhav Dev, Shri Dhamodhar Dev & Shri Haridev.

Submission of the parties

The Joint Secretary, Cultural Affairs Department, who is the SPIO of Cultural Affairs Department informed the Commission that in all 862 applications were received for fInancial assistance by the Government out of which during the fIrst phase 135 satras were surveyed and a proposal for sanctioning fInancial assistance of Rs. 96.59 crores in total was sent to the Government of India. He also informed that the Department had no information about the padasila (footprint) of the saints and would collect it from the Deputy Commissioners of the districts. He further stated that he would furnish the copies of the minutes ofthe said committee on Preservation and Development of the Satras to the complainant. He also informed that the second phase of survey of the satras would be undertaken soon and on the basis of the report of survey the Government of India would be approached with a proposal for sanctioning fInancial assistance for the satras. He stated that Rs. 5 lakhs was sanctioned for the said committee (Preservation & Development of Satras) and was utilized. He submitted before the Commission that the matter for furnishing copies of the questions and replies as requested by the complainant is in the exclusive purview ofthe Assembly and the Department has no right to furnish the copies of the questions and answers. On the question of Satras, Devalayas, Thans etc. getting Government grants the SPIO of the Cultural Affairs Department submitted that such grants are not given by the Cultural Affairs Department but by the Revenue Department / Planning & Development Department. He however, mentioned that available information on this also would be provided to the complainant.

Decision of the Commission

The Commission, on careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, found that the complainant Shri Hiralal Das had earlier submitted a complaint for furnishing information on similar matters and some information on connected subject had already been provided to him. The Commission after due consultation with the complainant and the SPIOs of both Cultural Affairs Department and Revenue Department in the present case decided that the following information be furnished to the complainant by the SPIO of Cultural Affairs Department for which the complainant will be required to pay the prescribed fees;
1. Copies of the minutes of the meetings of Satras Preservation & Development Committee
headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, Shri c.K. Das, lAS.
2. Information regarding sanction of Rs. 5 1akhs for the said committee.
3. List of 862 applications received by the Government from the different organizations
4. List of 135 satras which were surveyed in the First Phase
5. Copies of the proposal sent to the Government of India for sanctioning of Rs. 96.59 crores
6. The SPIO of the Cultural Mfairs Department may also furnish the available information on the annual grants given to the Satras, Devalayas, Thans etc. which is within the knowledge of the Cultural Affairs Department.
The Commission further directed that the SPIO of the Cultural Mfairs Department, Government of Assam should arrange to collect the Padasila (Footprint) as sought for by the complainant from the Deputy Commissioners of the districts and to furnish the same on realization of costs to the complainant as and when received. The Commission was of the opinion that the information regarding the Assembly questions and replies thereto are in the exclusive domain of the Assam Legislative Assembly and therefore if the complainant wanted the information he should approach the SPIO of the Assam Legislative Assembly by following the procedure prescribed under the RTI Act, 2005.


No order on costs.