Madhya Pradesh State Information Commissioner Issues Arrest Warrant Against Non-Compliant Public Information Officer

In a first, the Madhya Pradesh State Information Commissioner Rahul Singh has issued an arrest warrant against a Public Information Officer (PIO) for non-compliance with orders passed over a period of two years. The arrest warrant has been issued against Dr. Vikram Singh Verma, the CMHO Of District Bhuranpur [who is also the public information officer...

RTI- Once A Party Dies His/Her Death Certificate Can't Be Termed As 'Third Party Information': Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday held that once a party has died, his/her death certificate cannot be termed a 'Third Party Information' as per Section 11 of the Right to Information Act, as that information relates/related only to the deceased. The Bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan was hearing the plea of an appellant/applicant...

Supreme Court To Consider Next Week Issue Of Vacancies In Central Information Commission

The Supreme Court today adjourned for September 1, 2021 application filed by RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj seeking compliance on the part of the Central Government with respect to the directions issued by the Supreme Court in its judgment delivered in February 2019 as regards the posts and vacancies in the Central Information Commission. The...

RTI : Supreme Court Directs States To File Status Reports On Vacancies & Pendency In State Information Commissions

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the States to file status reports indicating the vacancy positions and pendency of appeals in the State Information Commissions.A bench comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari issued the direction in an application filed by RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj seeking compliance on the part of the...

Personal Information Having No Relation To Any Public Activity, Public Interest Cannot Be Disclosed Under RTI Act: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Monday observed that any personal information having no relation with any public activity or public interest cannot be disclosed under the Right to Information Act. The Court also said that disclosure of such information can cause an unwarranted invasion into one's privacy.The observation came from a division bench...

CIC Stays RBI Order Directing Bank To Disclose RTI Information On NPAs & Top Defaulters

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has stayed the order of the First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which had directed the disclosure of information on non-performing assets (NPAs) and top defaulters of the Saraswat Co-operative Bank Limited. CIC Suresh Chandra passed the order in an appeal filed by Saraswat Bank...

'Political Favouritism': LoP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Objects To Search Committee Recommendations For Appointment Of Information Commissioners Under RTI Act

MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a member of the Selection Committee empowered to appoint Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners under the Right to Information Act, has sought withdrawal of all recommendations made by the search committee in this regard. The Congress leader claims that the Search Committee has arbitrarily made...

Supreme Court Directs Union, States To File Status Reports On Vacancies In Central & State Information Commissions

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Union of India and all States to file status reports on the latest developments regarding vacancies and pendency in the Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs). A Bench headed by Justice S. Abdul Nazeer issued the direction in a 2018 plea filed by RTI activists...

Supreme Court Dismisses Banks' Application To Recall Judgment Which Directed RBI To Disclose Loan Defaulters List, Inspection Reports Under RTI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the applications filed by certain banks seeking to recall the 2015 judgment in the case Reserve Bank of India v Jayantilal N. Mistry which had held that the RBI was obliged to disclose defaulters list, inspection reports, annual statements etc., related to banks under the RTI Act.A bench comprising Justices...

Kerala High Court Directs Police To Publish Details Of Officers Found Guilty Of Corruption Or Human Rights Violations

In a significant verdict, the Kerala High Court has directed the Kerala Police to publish in its official website the details of police officers who have been found guilty of corruption or human rights violations. This direction has to be complied within 30 days from March 20.The High Court ruled that the Police cannot shield the names of officers...

Disclosure Of Interest Necessary Only When 'Personal' Information Sought Under RTI Act: Delhi High Court Clarifies Its Recent Ruling

The Delhi High Court on Friday (29th January) clarified that whenever 'Personal Information' is sought under the 'Right To Information Act, 2005', the disclosure of applicant's interest in the information being sought would be necessary to establish his/her bonafides. By issuing this clarification, the Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh has...

RTI- CPIO/PIO Cannot Function As 'Post Offices' And Withhold Information Without Reasonable Cause, Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has recently held that the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) or PIOs cannot withhold information without reasonable cause and that such officers cannot function merely as "post offices" while dealing with information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The judgment was delivered by a Single Judge Bench of...