Right to information cannot be refused for non-maintenance of records where data can be readily collected from registries.

Requested information concerning appeals, complaints, or penalty proceedings could not be denied merely because the registries said they were not maintaining it. The Commission found that such cases would be limited in number and that the relevant data could be collected without difficulty from the concerned registries. It therefore required the public authority to gather and provide the information, IC-wise, instead of refusing disclosure on a non-maintenance of records objection.

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Issues: Whether the requested information could be denied on the ground that the registries were not maintaining it, and whether the information was required to be supplied.

Analysis: The information sought related to appeals, complaints, or penalty proceedings in which orders had not been passed within sixty days of hearing, and the adjudicating body noted that such cases would be few in number. It held that it would not be appropriate for the registries to contend that they were not maintaining this information when it could be collected with ease from the concerned registries.

Conclusion: The request for information could not be refused on the ground of non-maintenance of records, and the CPIO was directed to collect and supply the information, IC-wise, within two weeks.

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