IBBI First Appellate Authority Allows RTI Application By A Company Seeking Information Regarding Complaint Against IRP

The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) had rejected the RTI application filed by the Appellant herein, Utility Premises Private Limited.

The following information was sought regarding the complaint filed at IBBI u/s 217 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 read with section 7 under the Prevention of Corruption Act,1988 against Mr. X, IRP-

1) The stage of the inquiry for complaint filed ?

2) Has there any steps taken and what are those steps?

3) Has the IRP been called and questioned regarding the complaint and charges ?

4) What is the time limit for such inspection/investigation to be completed?

5) What is the next stage post the completion of the inquiry?"

The CPIO rejected the application on the ground that under the RTI Act, only citizens can seek information. Since the Appellant in the present case is not a citizen, it cannot seek information under the Act.

The First Appellate Authority admitted the appeal and directed the CPIO to deal with the information request of the Appellant on merits.

In reaching the conclusion, the Authority relied on the judgment of the CIC in J.C. Talukdar vs. C.E.(E) CPWD Kolkata (CIC/WB/C/2007/00104 & 105 dated 17 May

2007) wherein it was held that-

"Section 3 of the RTI Act confers "right to information" on all "citizens". A "citizen" under the Constitution Part II that deals with "citizenship" can only be a natural born person and it does not even by implication include a legal or a juristic person… Even if it were conceded that a company or a corporate body is a legal entity distinct from its shareholders and it is not in itself a citizen it is a fact that all superior courts have been admitting applications in exercise of their extraordinary jurisdiction from

companies, societies and associations under Article 19 of the Constitution of which the RTI Act, 2005 is a child. Very few petitions have been rejected on the ground that the Applicants / Petitioners are corporate bodies or companies or associations and as such not "citizens". This Commission also has been receiving sizeable number of such applications from such entities. If the courts could give relief to such entities the PIOs

also should not throw them out on a mere technical ground that the Applicant / Appellant happened to be a legal person and not a citizen. In conclusion we direct that an application / appeal from an association or a partnership firm or a Hindu Undivided Family or from some other group of individuals constituted as a body or otherwise should be accepted and allowed.""

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