MP High Court Quashes Remarks Against Ex-State CIC's Conduct For Delaying RTI Info, Says Decision Was 'Bona Fide'

The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently set aside adverse observations made on the conduct of former State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Arvind Kumar Shukla in an order passed by a single judge bench and quashed the direction to recover a penalty of Rs. 40,000.A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf observed that the order passed by the CIC with respect to information sought by an RTI applicant was passed in bona fide discharge of his duties. It...

Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Plea Seeking RTI Information On Complaints Against Ex-Madras HC Judge T Raja

The Delhi High Court on Monday (May 26) issued notice on a plea seeking RTI information on whether any complaints of corruption or improper conduct have been received by Supreme Court Collegium against former Madras High Court judge Justice T Raja.Justice Sachin Datta sought response of Supreme Court CPIO and listed it for hearing on September 08....

Supreme Court Rejects RTI Application For Copies Of In-House Inquiry Report & CJI's Letter To President & PM On Justice Yashwant Verma

The Supreme Court recently rejected an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, seeking a copy of the report submitted by the in-house inquiry committee in respect of the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma and also the letter written by the Chief Justice of India to the President and the Prime Minister while...

Bar Associations Are 'Public Authorities' Under RTI Act : Kerala State Information Commission

The Kerala State Information Commission (SIC) recently passed an order wherein it held that all Bar Associations functioning in Kerala can be considered to be 'public authority' as per sections 2(h)(d) and 2 (h)(ii) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.For context, S. 2(h) of the RTI Act gives the definition of 'public authority' and states,...

Reasons For Inclusion Of Name In CBI's List Of 'Undesirable Contact Men' Prima Facie Not Exempt From RTI Act: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that inclusion of an individual's name in an intelligence agency's list of 'Undesirable Contact Men' and publication of the same in newspaper and official website prima facie violates 'human rights' within the meaning of Section 24(1) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.For context, Section 24(1) of the RTI Act...

S.19(8)(b) RTI Act | No Compensation Can Be Granted Unless Actual Loss Or Detriment Due To Delayed Information Shown: Patna High Court

While dismissing a petition filed by an individual seeking compensation for delayed information under the Right to Information Act 2005, the Patna High Court has reiterated that compensation under Section 19(8)(b) of the Act can only be granted when the applicant demonstrates actual loss or detriment suffered due to the delay in receiving the...

Attempt To Shield Ineligible Persons: MP High Court Quashes CIC Order Denying RTI Info On Experience Certificate Of Public Office Appointees

The Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed an order of the Central Information Commission which denied information to an applicant under RTI Act pertaining to educational qualification including experience certificate of candidates appointed to public office, holding that the same cannot be termed as private information.In doing so the court said that...

Marks Of Other Candidates In Public Examination Can Be Disclosed Under RTI In Public Interest: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court recently upheld an order of the Bombay High Court, wherein it was observed that a request to disclose the marks obtained by other candidates in a public examination under the Right to Information Act, 2005, in the public interest, cannot be declined. By an order dated November 11, 2024, passed in a writ petition, the High Court...

TRAI's Obligations Don't Extend To Seeking Info Under RTI Act On Status Of Complaints Lodged With Telecom Service Providers: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has observed that the regulatory functions of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) does not encompass seeking or requisitioning information about individual complaints from a Telecom Service Provider for the purpose of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act).Justice Sanjeev Narula observed that seeking the...

After RTI Activist Flags Vacancies In Information Commissions, Supreme Court Seeks Data From Centre & States On CIC/SICs

The Supreme Court today called on the Centre and states to furnish data regarding vacancies in Central/State Information Commissions as well as the proposed timelines for appointment of Information Commissioners thereto.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order in a PIL raising the issue of large number of vacancies in...

Supreme Court Issues Notice On PIL To Allow Virtual Hearing Access In CIC Through Direct Links

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 17) sought response from the Union in a PIL seeking directions to Central Information Commission to give access to virtual hearings by issuing direct court links. The Petitioner in Person, Advocate Kishan Chand Jain in his plea stressed that the Central Information Commission (CIC), has nationwide...

Disclosing Govt Employee's University Name Does Not Serve Public Interest, Exempted Under Section 8(1)(j) RTI Act: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that withholding the names of the institutes or universities attended by current employees of a public authority is justified under Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act). This is because disclosure of such information does not serve a broader public interest and further infringes on...