Social Worker Not Exempt From Exceptions U/S 8 RTI Act, Must Demonstrate Bona Fides In Larger Public Interest: Bombay High Court

Claims of being a "social activist" are not enough to get information under the RTI Act, the application must show details sought are bona fide in larger public interest, and without causing "unwarranted invasion of privacy of the individual" under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, the Bombay High Court has held. "The logic seems to be this: since Goyal (appellant) is a...

'Public Authority' & 'Public Information Officer' Under RTI Act, 2005: Jharkhand High Court Explains Difference

Upholding the order of the State Information Commission, the Jharkhand High Court recently held that the State Information Commission has the power to pass an order of compensation by resorting to the provision of Section 19(8)(b) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Noting the difference between Public Authority and Public Information Officer,...

RTI Plea Seeking Details Of Supreme Court Collegium's December 2018 Meeting Rejected By CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC) in a recent decision upheld an order of the First Appellate Authority under the Right to Information (RTI) Act denying information sought regarding the decisions taken by the Supreme Court Collegium in a meeting held on December 12, 2018. Importantly, activist Anjali Bhardwaj had filed an RTI Application...

No Bar In Furnishing B-Report And Its Enclosures Under RTI When Investigation Already Concluded: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has said that once an investigation is completed and B-Report is filed by the police, there is no prohibition to give information about the same under the Right To Information Act. A single-judge bench of Justice N S Sanjay Gowda while upholding the order of the State Information Commissioner (SIC) said, "In my view,...

Madhya Pradesh State Information Commissioner Issues Arrest Warrant Against Non-Compliant Public Information Officer

In a first, the Madhya Pradesh State Information Commissioner Rahul Singh has issued an arrest warrant against a Public Information Officer (PIO) for non-compliance with orders passed over a period of two years. The arrest warrant has been issued against Dr. Vikram Singh Verma, the CMHO Of District Bhuranpur [who is also the public...

RTI- Once A Party Dies His/Her Death Certificate Can't Be Termed As 'Third Party Information': Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday held that once a party has died, his/her death certificate cannot be termed a 'Third Party Information' as per Section 11 of the Right to Information Act, as that information relates/related only to the deceased. The Bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan was hearing the plea of an appellant/applicant...

Supreme Court To Consider Next Week Issue Of Vacancies In Central Information Commission

The Supreme Court today adjourned for September 1, 2021 application filed by RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj seeking compliance on the part of the Central Government with respect to the directions issued by the Supreme Court in its judgment delivered in February 2019 as regards the posts and vacancies in the Central Information Commission. The...

RTI : Supreme Court Directs States To File Status Reports On Vacancies & Pendency In State Information Commissions

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the States to file status reports indicating the vacancy positions and pendency of appeals in the State Information Commissions.A bench comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari issued the direction in an application filed by RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj seeking compliance on the part of the...

Personal Information Having No Relation To Any Public Activity, Public Interest Cannot Be Disclosed Under RTI Act: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Monday observed that any personal information having no relation with any public activity or public interest cannot be disclosed under the Right to Information Act. The Court also said that disclosure of such information can cause an unwarranted invasion into one's privacy.The observation came from a division bench...

CIC Stays RBI Order Directing Bank To Disclose RTI Information On NPAs & Top Defaulters

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has stayed the order of the First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which had directed the disclosure of information on non-performing assets (NPAs) and top defaulters of the Saraswat Co-operative Bank Limited. CIC Suresh Chandra passed the order in an appeal filed by Saraswat Bank...

'Political Favouritism': LoP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Objects To Search Committee Recommendations For Appointment Of Information Commissioners Under RTI Act

MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a member of the Selection Committee empowered to appoint Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners under the Right to Information Act, has sought withdrawal of all recommendations made by the search committee in this regard. The Congress leader claims that the Search Committee has arbitrarily made...

Supreme Court Directs Union, States To File Status Reports On Vacancies In Central & State Information Commissions

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Union of India and all States to file status reports on the latest developments regarding vacancies and pendency in the Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs). A Bench headed by Justice S. Abdul Nazeer issued the direction in a 2018 plea filed by RTI activists...