CIC Directs Disclosure Of Numeric Data Of Officers Facing Corruption Charges [Read Order]

The Central Information Commission recently directed the Government to disclose numeric details of pending as well as disclosed Departmental/ Vigilance/ Court cases against the employees of various departments.

“Disclosure of such data shall serve as a tool in better governance and thus undoubtedly serves larger public interest,” Information Commissioner Yashovardhan Azad opined. He, however, clarified that only the rank/post held by the charge-sheeted employee be disclosed, and not his/her name.

The Appellant, Mr. Ashok Kumar Reddy, had sought the information to catalogue a directory of ‘corrupt officers’, and had, therefore, filed 51 RTI applications aimed at gathering information of all tainted employees.

Ruling in Mr. Reddy’s favour, IC Azad observed that the dynamic numeric data relating to departmental and vigilance proceedings falls within the purview of Section 4(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, and thus, “the same must be put in public domain, proactively”.

“Accordingly, the Commission in exercise of powers conferred under subclauses (iii) & (iv) of Section 19(8)(a) directs all Ministries of the Union of India and departments & instrumentalities subordinates thereto; to publish the numerical details of ongoing departmental, vigilance and well as police prosecution cases,” the CIC ruled.

Thereafter, directing that the order be complied with within a period of three months, the Commission directed the Registry to send the order to the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, for circulating the same to all Ministries/ Departments and Corporations falling under the aegis of Union Government.