Misuse of RTI by employees of Public authorities be considered as ‘misconduct’: CIC [Read Order]

Taking serious note of misuse of RTI, the Central Information Commission has observed that such misuse by the employees of Public authorities shall be considered as an item of misconduct that invite disciplinary action.The observation was made by Information Commissioner Prof. M. Sridhar Acharyulu who was hearing an appeal filed by an employee of Ambedkar Polytechnic. He had sought wide range...

CIC pulls up Bar Council of India for not complying with mandatory RTI requirements [Read Order]

Central Information Commission has pulled up Bar Council of India for not having complied with Mandatory RTI requirements. Information commissioner Professor Madabhushi Sridhar has directed the BCI Chairman to explain when they would be complying with 4(1) (b) on their official website.Section 4 (1) (b) of the RTI Act states that every public...

CIC upholds PMO’s decision dismissing RTI Application for copy of Justice Bhattacharya’s letter on then CJI Altamas Kabir [Read Order]

Central Information Commission has recently upheld the decision of Prime Minister’s Office dismissing an RTI Application seeking certified copy of letter addressed by former Gujarat Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya, to Prime Minister, making certain allegations against the former Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas Kabir.The Chief Information...

Delhi HC directs Central Information Commission to start maintaining daily order sheets within six months [Read Order]

In a recent order, Justice Manmohan of Delhi High Court has directed the Central Information Commission to start maintaining daily order sheets within six months.The direction came while disposing the writ petition filed by RK Jain, a renowned authority on indirect taxation, and the Editor of Excise Law Times.In his order, Justice Manmohan held...

Bar Councils and Associations come under the purview of RTI Act: CIC [Read Order]

In a recent order, the Central Information Commissioner has ruled that Bar Councils and Associations, being established under the Advocates Act, come under the purview of the Right to Information Act.The CIC was hearing an appeal filed by Mr. Harinder Dhingra, who had sought information regarding the number of complaints filed against advocates...

Disclosure of Personal details of RTI applicants; DoPT invites suggestions

The Department of Personnel and Training has invited comments from stakeholders on a Draft Office Memorandum, based on the ruling of the Kolkata High Court in Avishek Goenka v. Union of India, W.P. 33290(W) of 2013. In the case, High Court had pronounced it a duty of the authority to hide the information seeker’s personal details, particularly from...

Registrar of Cooperative Societies is a 'Public Authority' and required to provide information under RTI Act; Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

A division Bench of Delhi High Court Today held that Registrar of Cooperative Societies is a 'Public Authority' and hence duty bound to comply with the provisions of RTI Act and is required to provide information as provided for under Section 2(f) of the Act subject to the limitations enumerated under Section 8 of the RTI Act.The Bench comprising...

RTI: PIO not required to furnish Info which requires drawing of inferences or making assumptions: Kerala HC [Read Judgment]

In Muhammed Siyad P.A. & Ors. v. Sreejith Appu & Ors [W.A No:1135/2015 &other connected cases] the petitioners based on the position of their rank, claimed before the single bench,that they are eligible for consideration towards appointment to various posts of Assistant Executive Engineers existing in the Kerala State Electricity...

Every minister in union and states is 'public authority' under RTI Act; CIC [Read Order]

In a recent order, the Central Information Commission has ruled that subject to availability and convenience of the Minister at office in capital city or in his constituency, the ministers owe a moral and democratic responsibility to meet their voters or people in the constituency.The CIC ruled that Ministers in Union and State Governments are...

Personal Information of deserted Spouse cannot be revealed under RTI; CIC [Read Order]

CIC Prof Sridhar Acharyulu rejected the second appeal of a woman seeking personal information of her former husband whom she deserted 26 years ago. Ms S Chopra sought from Education department residential address, copy of service book, latest GPF statement, details of assets, nominee for GPF, family pension, insurance amount, CGHS, benefits that...

CIC directs National Law University to disclose comments of professors on their live-in relationship, in ‘larger public interest’ [Read Order]

Though LiveLaw got the copy of the Order while publishing the story, we didn't publish it since it contains the personal details of the parties. We have then requested the CIC to consider the removal of names from the Order. Now we are publishing the order since the CIC removed the names of the parties from the order.In a recent ruling, the CIC...

Delhi HC directs all petitions against non-compliance of CIC-verdicts to be registered afresh [Read Order]

In a Writ Petition that came up challenging an order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) the Delhi High Court Single Bench Justice Manmohan directed Registry of the Central Information Commission to evolve a procedure by virtue of which applications for non-compliance of CIC orders are numbered and different applications are placed in...