Uttarakhand SIC Asks High Court To Disclose RTI Info On Misconduct Complaints & Action Taken Against Judicial Officers

The Uttarakhand State Information Commission has asked the Public Information Officer of Uttarakhand High Court to provide information to Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi on complaints alleging misconduct by judges of subordinate judiciary in the State and the action recommended or taken against them. Chief Information Commissioner Radha Raturi in her order dated January 1 said:"Therefore the Public Information Officer is directed to obtain approval from the competent level regarding the number of cases and ensure that the desired information is available to the appellant within one month receipt of the Order and inform the Commission of the compliance taken". The appellant Sanjeev Chaturvedi had orifinal sent a request dated May 14, 2025 to the Public Information Officer/Office of the Registrar General Uttarakhand High Court seeking the following information:1. To provide him certified copies of all the relevant Service Rules, regulation conduct of subordinate judiciary of Uttarakhand and processing of Disciplinary. proceedings against officers / judges of subordinate judiciary of State of Uttarakhand.2. To provide him certified copies of all the procedures, Rules and details of Competent Authority, before whom complaints of corruption and other types of misconduct against officers / judges of subordinate judiciary in State of Uttarakhand, may be lodged, along with copies of any such proforma, and other relevant documents / information for filling such complaint.3. To provide him certified copies of all the information related to total number of complaints filed against officers / judges of subordinate judiciary in State of Uttarakhand, from 01.01.2020 to 15.04.2025 and number of cases in which Disciplinary / Criminal actions were recommended / effected against them, from 01.01.2020 to 15.04.2025.4. To provide him certified copies of all the file noting / document generated in processing of this RTI Application, by SPIO and other officials.The PIO communicated the information to the appellant through his letter dated JUne 19, 2025. However upon not receiving the required information from the PIO, Chaturvedi filed an appeal before the Registrar, High Court on June 23, 2025 wich was disposed of. The appellant thereafter in the second appeal before the Commission has sought the information as asked by him in relation to the original request letter. Before the Commission the appellant argued that Right to Information arises from Article 19 of the Constitution of India and he should be provided with the information sought by him in point no. 3–total number of complaints against judicial officers from 01.01.2020 to 15.04.2025 and information on cases where which Disciplinary or Criminal action was recommended or taken against such officers. The PIO submitted that he had informed the appellant that the information sought was confidential and related to a third party which cannot be provided, and prior to providing such information permission from Chief Justice Uttarakhand High Court was necessary. The Commission thus partly allowed the second appeal and disposed it off. Case title: Sanjiv Chaturvedi v/s PIO High Court Appeal No. 443293/2025-26Click Here To Read/Download Order

Uttarakhand SIC Asks High Court To Disclose RTI Info On Misconduct Complaints & Action Taken Against Judicial Officers

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