RTI Act | Penalty U/S 20(2) For Destruction Of Information Sought Not Attracted In Absence Of Malafide: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has held that where any information sought under the Right to Information Act is destroyed and it is not the case of malafide destruction of information, penalty under Section 20(2) of RTI Act shall not be attracted.

Section 20 stipulates disciplinary action against a Public Information Officer where information sought is not supplied within the time specified, or is malafidely denied or incorrect information is knowingly given or information is destroyed.

In the present case, the petitioner had sought action against a municipality's PIO over his failure to furnish information despite a direction from the State Chief Information Commissioner.

While dismissing the writ, Justice AS Supehia said,

"In the considered opinion of this Court, the provision of Section 20(2) of the RTI Act will not apply in the present case as it is not the case of the petitioners that any incorrect or misleading information has been provided to them or the information has been destroyed mala fidely. If the petitioners are aggrieved by the action of the respondent authority in non-preservation of the record or destruction of the record in illegal manner, they may approach the concerned authority. There is no finding of any of the authority that such information has been destroyed with mala fide intent."

The bench noted that the State Chief Information Commissioner had directed the PIO to either to give the information sought "OR" send necessary details of the search or efforts made in finding such information. Since the latter direction was complied by the PIO, the Court said,

"The directions issued in the said order do not in any way imply that information or record is required to be given. The direction, as stated hereinabove, are in two parts, either to give the record "OR" to supply the details of the efforts made by the respondent No.5 in tracing out the record to the petitioners. Accordingly, Panch Rojkam dated 10.12.2021 prepared by the respondent No.5 reveals that despite their efforts, they are unable to find the record. It is not the case of the petitioners that Rojkam is falsely prepared and is concocted."

It added that while exercising discretionary power vested under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, it cannot delve into the question of fact with regard to destruction or non-preservation of the record.

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