Whether Govt Aided Educational Institutions Run By Societies Are Subject To RTI Act? Karnataka HC Asks State Information Commission To Decide

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Information Commission to decide whether societies and educational institutions (aided) run by the societies are subject to Right to Information Act, 2005. A single judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit said,"the question raised before this Court being mixed question of law & facts, needs to be addressed by the respondent...

RTI Act | Information Commission Can't Turn Blind Eye To Culpable Delay In Furnishing Info By PIO: Karnataka High Court Imposes Penalty

The Karnataka High Court recently observed that the Information Commission cannot let the undue delay caused by a Public Information Officer in furnishing information as sought for under the Right to Education Act, go unpunished.Leaving the culpable delay to go with impunity strikes at the root of law, a single judge bench of Justice Krishna S...

CIC Directs PMO To Re-Examine RTI Application Seeking Information On Planning Behind Nationwide Lockdown & COVID-19 Control

The Central Information Commission has directed the Prime Minister's Office to re-examine an RTI application seeking details regarding imposition of nation-wide lockdown on March 24, 2020 on account of Covid-19 pandemic. The information was denied by the Under Secretary, PMO (acting as the Public Information Officer) citing Section 7(9) of...

S.11 RTI Act | Inter-Caste Marriage Certificate Submitted By Persons Seeking Priority In Public Employment Contain Personal Info, Notice Mandatory: Madras HC

The Madras High Court recently reiterated that informations touching upon the right of privacy of third parties cannot be sought through RTI applications without putting them on notice.Justice Anand Venkatesh was dealing with a plea seeking directions to the Tamil Nadu Information Commission to provide details with respect to persons who have...

Definition Of "Public Authority" Under RTI Act Has No Application In Service Dispute: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that the definition of 'public authority' as contained under sec. 2(h) of Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 has no application in a service matter.Justice C Hari Shankar was dealing with an application under sec. 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 moved in regular second appeal pending before it. The...

Consider Uploading Cumulative Month Wise Data Of Cases Instituted & Disposed Of On HC Website: CIC To Delhi High Court

The Central Information Commission has asked the Delhi High Court to consider uploading cumulative month-wise data of cases instituted and disposed of on its website.The Chief Information Commissioner Y. K. Sinha passed this order on an appeal filed by a law student, Ateet Bansal challenging the refusal of the Public Information Officer of the...

S.21 RTI Act | Public Information Officer Can't Be Penalised For Delay In Furnishing Info If Genuine & Bonafide Reasons Given: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka HIgh Court has quashed an order passed by the Karnataka Information Commission directing a Deputy Conservator of Forests (deputed as the Public Information officer) to pay fine of Rs.10,000/- for delay in furnishing information sought under the Right to Information Act (RTI). A single judge bench of Justice C M Poonacha while...

RTI Act | Right To 'Inspection Of Work' Of Any Public Authority U/S 2(j) Does Not Include 'Inspection Of Property': Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that the words "inspection of work" under Section 2(j) of the Right To Information (RTI) Act, 2005 does not include "inspection of property" under its ambit.Section 2(j) stipulates that right to information means the right to information accessible under the Act which is held by or under the control of any public...

Potential Cabinet Papers Yet To Be Brought Before Council Of Ministers Exempted From Disclosure Under RTI Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has ruled that potential cabinet papers which have not yet been brought before the Council of Ministers are exempted from disclosure under the Right to Information Act.Section 8(1)(i) of the RTI Act exempts disclosure of cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other...

RTI Act | Penalty U/S 20(2) For Destruction Of Information Sought Not Attracted In Absence Of Malafide: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has held that where any information sought under the Right to Information Act is destroyed and it is not the case of malafide destruction of information, penalty under Section 20(2) of RTI Act shall not be attracted.Section 20 stipulates disciplinary action against a Public Information Officer where information sought is not...

Plea Of Army For Exemption From RTI: An Approach Devoid Of Merits

In the landmark judgment of SP Gupta Vs Union of India (1981), Supreme Court of India held, "the concept of open government is the direct emanation from the right to know, which seems to be implicit in the right of free speech and expression guaranteed under article 19(1) of Constitution." Besides Apex court, many high courts and civil...

"Will Benefit Students" : CIC Directs Bar Council Of India To Publish Inspection Reports Of Law Colleges On Website

The Central Information Commission has directed the Bar Council of India to publish on its website the inspection reports of law colleges. The CIC observed that the disclosure of the inspection reports of the law colleges in the public domain will benefit the student community at large.The Information Commissioner Saroj Punhani passed the order in...