The Central Information Commission has upheld Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s decision to deny disclosure of detailed records on fuel quality inspections, alleged fraud and consumer complaints for the past ten years under the Right to Information Act.
The Commission held that the information sought was spread across multiple offices nationwide and that compiling it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority. The appeal related to records from 2014 to 2023 concerning inspections at fuel retail outlets, action against erring outlets, consumer complaints and vigilance reports.
RTI Sought Inspection and Complaint Records
The appellant had sought year-wise details of inspections conducted at fuel retail outlets to detect substandard fuel quality, short delivery and alleged chip-based manipulation of fuel dispensing machines.
The request also covered action taken against outlets, consumer complaints and vigilance-related information. The appellant argued that consumers were already burdened by rising fuel prices and that disclosure of such records was in the larger public interest.
It was further argued that in the digital era, such records should be centrally maintained and made available when requested under the RTI Act.
IOCL Cites Scale of Records
During the hearing, IOCL told the Commission that the information was not readily available in the format sought by the appellant.
The company said it operates around 42,000 retail fuel outlets across the country and conducts at least two inspections annually at each outlet under its standard operating procedures. This results in nearly 800,000 inspections every year.
IOCL submitted that records for the period from 2014 to 2023 were spread across 16 state offices and 73 divisional offices. The corporation argued that collecting and compiling such a large volume of information would disproportionately divert its resources and fall under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act.
Commission Dismisses Appeal
IOCL also informed the Commission that active retail outlets are being progressively automated to improve operational monitoring. It said upgraded fuel dispensing units validated by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing are being deployed.
The company further stated that retail outlet personnel receive regular training and that consumer awareness programmes are conducted on an ongoing basis.
The Information Commissioner observed that IOCL had already provided applicable rules, marketing discipline guidelines, relevant website links and other factual information available on record. The Commission concluded that denial of the remaining information was consistent with the RTI Act and dismissed the appeal.
The Commission clarified that its order was limited to the disclosure of information under the RTI Act and did not amount to any finding on the merits of fuel quality inspections or the alleged irregularities mentioned in the application.
