All posts tagged: Central Information Commission

Unauthorised basement use: CIC slaps ₹20,000 penalty on MCD officials for ‘mala fide’ reply

Unauthorised basement use: CIC slaps ₹20,000 penalty on MCD officials for ‘mala fide’ reply

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi, The Central Information Commission has imposed a total penalty of ₹20,000 on two MCD officials, flagging “mala fide” conduct and a “misleading and incorrect” RTI reply in a case where information was furnished for an entirely different property, linked to alleged unauthorised basement use in Shastri Nagar. Unauthorised basement use: CIC slaps ₹20,000 penalty on MCD officials for ‘mala fide’ reply Highlighting the discrepancy, the applicant said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi provided a reply about another property altogether, despite repeated representations pointing out that the information sought related to a specific address where alleged misuse of a basement, including possible commercial use, was under question. Coming down heavily on the officials, the CIC observed that the RTI plea “remained unattended within the stipulated time frame, in clear violation of the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.” A penalty of ₹5,000 was imposed on the then Public Information Officer for not furnishing any reply within the prescribed period, while ₹15,000 was levied on the present PIO for providing “incorrect and misleading information” and …

Advocates cannot seek information under RTI Act for clients’ cases: CIC

Advocates cannot seek information under RTI Act for clients’ cases: CIC

Published by Parlour News

A view of the Central Information Commission building set up under the Right to Information Act 2005. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that advocates cannot use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to seek details regarding cases they are handling for clients, observing that using the transparency law in this manner fails to advance its core objectives. Dismissing a second appeal filed by an advocate in a dispute related to the termination of a fruits-and-vegetables supply contract at a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Haryana, Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi noted that the appellant had sought information “on behalf of his brother, who used to be supplier of vegetables/fruits to the respondent public authority”. The commission said in the absence of any explanation as to why the supplier himself could not seek the information, “it appears that the appellant has sought information on behalf of his client per se, which is not permissible”. Quoting a Madras High Court order, the CIC underlined that “a practising advocate cannot seek information …

Four banks move CIC against RBI nod to disclose NPAs, defaulters’ list under RTI

Four banks move CIC against RBI nod to disclose NPAs, defaulters’ list under RTI

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Four major banks including RBL Bank, have approached the Central Information Commission (CIC) objecting to the disclosure of information such as the list of defaulters and non-performing assets, penalties and inspection reports even as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) termed the records “liable to be disclosed” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. | Photo Credit: Reuters Four major banks — Bank of Baroda, RBL Bank, Yes Bank and State Bank of India — have approached the CIC objecting to the disclosure of information such as the list of defaulters and NPA, penalties and inspection reports, even as the RBI termed the records “liable to be disclosed” under the RTI Act. RTI applicants Dheeraj Mishra, Vathiraj, Girish Mittal and Radha Raman Tiwari had filed separate applications with the RBI, seeking information, such as the top 100 NPAs, willful defaulters of Yes Bank, the inspection report of the SBI and RBL, and documents relating to a ₹4.34 crore monetary penalty imposed following statutory inspection findings from the Bank of Baroda, respectively, among others. These banks …

Denial of limestone export data to Bangladesh justified; no larger public interest: CIC| India News

Denial of limestone export data to Bangladesh justified; no larger public interest: CIC| India News

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi, The Central Information Commission has upheld the denial of exporter-wise details of limestone sold to Bangladesh from Meghalaya, noting that the data attracts exemption under the commercial confidence clause. Denial of limestone export data to Bangladesh justified; no larger public interest: CIC It said such information could potentially harm the competitive position of the exporters concerned. The transparency panel also noted that there was no larger public interest involved, which could override Section 8 of the RTI Act, which exempts disclosure of information that could harm the competitive position of third parties. RTI applicant W Mathew Mawdkhap had sought “the name and address of the exporters who exported limestone to Bangladesh through Bholaganj Land Customs Station, E Khasi Hills, during the financial year 2023-24” from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Shillong Customs Division, which was denied, citing Section 8 of the RTI Act. His first appeal was also dismissed, following which he approached the Central Information Commission with his second appeal and challenged the first two orders. Dismissing his appeal, Information Commissioner …

PM-led panel to meet on Dec 10 to select Chief Information Commissioner: Centre to SC

PM-led panel to meet on Dec 10 to select Chief Information Commissioner: Centre to SC

Published by Parlour News

The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel is likely to meet on December 10 to select and recommend names for the post of Chief Information Commissioner and information commissioners of the Central Information Commission (CIC). Under the Right to Information Act, the PM is the chairperson of the committee, which also comprises the leader of opposition and a minister nominated by the PM.(Bloomberg) A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, which was hearing a plea seeking filling of vacant posts of CIC and state information commissions (SICs), was told by Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, that the meeting has been fixed and notice for it has been sent to the members of the panel. Under Section 12 (3) of the Right to Information Act, the prime minister is the chairperson of the committee, which also comprises the leader of opposition and a Union minister nominated by the prime minister, that selects and recommends the names for appointment as …

Govt forms panel to shortlist candidates for vacant posts of information commissioners | Latest News India

Govt forms panel to shortlist candidates for vacant posts of information commissioners | Latest News India

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Jan 23, 2025 10:14 PM IST Govt forms panel to shortlist candidates for vacant posts of information commissioners New Delhi, The government has constituted a search committee under Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan to shortlist candidates for eight vacant positions of information commissioners at the Central Information Commission . Govt forms panel to shortlist candidates for vacant posts of information commissioners The five-member committee also comprised secretaries from Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, besides 16th Finance Commission member Manoj Panda. On August 14 last year, the Department of Personnel and Training had issued advertisement seeking applications for the post of information commissioners . In response to the advertisement, the government had received 161 applications for the eight vacant positions of information commissioners at the CIC with applicants from varied backgrounds including a sitting Delhi High Court judge expressing interest in the job, according to a DoPT list provided in an RTI reply to activist Commodore Lokesh Batra . According to the procedure of …

PM degree row: RTI’s purpose not to satisfy curiosity, DU tells Delhi HC | Latest News India

PM degree row: RTI’s purpose not to satisfy curiosity, DU tells Delhi HC | Latest News India

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New Delhi, University of Delhi on Monday said the purpose of RTI was not to satiate a third party’s curiosity as it challenged the central information commission’s order over disclosure of information on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree. PM degree row: RTI’s purpose not to satisfy curiosity, DU tells Delhi HC Appearing before Delhi High Court’s Justice Sachin Datta, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said students’ information was held by a university in a “fiduciary capacity” and couldn’t be divulged to a stranger for the law exempted it. “Section 6 provides a mandate that information will have to be given, that is the purpose. But the RTI act is not for the purpose of satisfying someone’s curiosity,” he said. Right to information law cannot be abused or misused by directing disclosure of information unrelated to the transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities, argued Mehta. On the RTI plea of one activist Neeraj, the Central Information Commission on December 21, 2016, allowed inspection of records of all students who had cleared the BA exam …