Central Information Commission (CIC): CIC has directed Postal Department to disclose details of 100 biggest accounts in which huge balances are lying unclaimed. CIC passed said directions while disposing of an appeal filed by eminent RTI activist Subhash Agrawal, who sought the details of the 100 biggest unclaimed accounts along with the amount and date since when they have been lying dormant. Mr. Agrawal alleged that the postal department had admitted that around 2.49 crore dormant accounts were in existence with a total unclaimed amount of Rs. 752.44 crore but the department had not taken any steps to return the unclaimed money to legitimate claimants. He also pointed out that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs have already issued guidelines to take proactive steps to refund unclaimed balance to legitimate claimants or to transfer the amount in accounts lying dormant for a specified period. Allowing the plea of the appellant CIC said, “CPIO should provide the information as above, free of cost, to the appellant within 45 days from the date of receipt of this order”. (Subhash Agrawal v. Department of Communication & IT Department of Posts, [2013] CIC 13150, decided on September 06, 2013)1
LUCKNOW: A huge balance of Rs 752.44 crore is lying unclaimed in different post offices in the country. The postal authorities have not taken any step to return the money to the legitimate claimants.
In response to an RTI query by activist Subhash Agrawal, the postal department said that the money is lying unclaimed in 2.49 crore accounts. The central information commisison, however, has now directed the postal authorities to reveal 100 largest amounts lying unclaimed out of the total 2 crore accounts.1
The money can be withdrawn from these accounts through fraud and may not reach the natural claimant, said the activist. The information about such accounts will ensure transparency.
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