Information regarding setting up of SC Benches outside Delhi may create "needless political controversy" and "arouse regional feelings": CIC [Read the Order]

Refusing disclosure of information regarding the meetings of the full court of the Supreme Court relating to setting up of its benches outside Delhi, a full bench of the Central Information Commission observed that disclosure of information regarding setting up of Supreme Court benches outside Delhi may "arouse regional feelings" and create "needless political controversy" resulting in law and order problem.

The Bench observed, "We find force in the arguments of the respondent that the information sought, if disclosed at this stage, could lead to needless controversy of a political nature, which should best be avoided taking into account the need for efficient functioning of the Supreme Court. It is felt that the disclosure of this sensitive information could arouse regional feelings leading to law and order problems."

The appellant, Mr. Rajiv Rufus, from Madurai, through an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 sought information about the copies of minutes of the meeting of the full court of the Supreme Court, the file notings and letters sent by the Chief Justice of India to the Parliamentary Standing Committee relating to the setting up of benches of the Supreme Court outside Delhi.

He was informed by the Additional Registrar and & CPIO that the resolutions of the full Court meetings of the Supreme Court are based on opinions expressed confidentially by the Judges in the course of discussions. The respondents stated that these are confidential and that divulging the same would make the system unworkable in practice.

With respect to any publications effected by the Supreme Court relating to the establishing of benches of the Supreme Court outside Delhi, it was stated that there was no such publication by the Supreme Court.

Regarding the furnishing of a copy of all the publications by the Supreme Court about the procedures followed in the decision making process relating to the establishing of benches of the Supreme Court outside Delhi, it was informed that the same is available on its website.

It was submitted by the respondents that complete full court resolutions and the relevant documents cannot be divulged under section 8(1) (a) of the Act as the issue relating to the setting up of benches of the Supreme Court outside Delhi is a sensitive issue and its disclosure would lead to politicization of the matter. It was stated that the disclosure will not be in the interest of the efficient functioning of the Supreme Court.

Activist R.K. Jain submitted that the minutes of committees should be disclosed in the interest of democracy and transparency. He contended, "...right to justice is a fundamental right and since the Supreme Court is functioning only from Delhi, everybody has to come to Delhi to file or defend the case before it."

The appellant however submitted, "…the comments or views expressed during the full court meetings are not personal and are part of the decision making process in a matter. The question is about openness of the views expressed and mere confidentiality is not a ground to claim exemption."

The matter had been referred to the full Bench by a RTI Foundation of India bench of Chief Information Commissioner Sushma Singh by through an order delivered on 16^th May this year.

Read the May order here.

Read the CIC order here.