SC registry makes a mockery of the RTI act
Sidharth Misra
by CJ: SUBHASH CHANDRA.. Fri, Oct 09, 2009
The Supreme Court registry does not follow elementary principles when
the Appellate Authority becomes a part of the decision making process,
by endorsing a basic reply from its CPIO. Its registry should instead,
be a role-model for a law abiding body
THE NEGLIGENT attitude of the registry of the Supreme Court towards
adopting ‘Right To Information Act’ as passed by the Parliament is
shocking. The court registry has failed to comply with directions of
publishing all mandatory information as stipulated under section
4(1)(b) of the RTI Act.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) should take suitable action
for this big lapse against those responsible at the apex court's
registry at a time when RTI Act is completing four years of its
implementation.
Despite the verdict of Delhi High Court, holding Chief Justice of
India (CJI) under cover of the RTI Act, the Appellate Authority at the
Supreme Court declined to direct Central Public Information Officer
(CPIO) to provide information relating to the CJI.
Moreover, the CPIO at the Supreme Court came with a strange
adjournment-request to CIC on hearings, till final disposal of its
appeal against the High Court verdict, even without getting any
stay-order of the verdict. Rather, the simple information directed to
be provided by the Delhi High Court was given five days after the
deadline set by Justice S Rabindra Bhatt.
The Supreme Court registry does not follow elementary legal principles
when the Appellate Authority there itself becomes a part of
decision-making process, by endorsing basic reply from its CPIO. At
least the registry should be a role-model for a law-abiding body
rather than making mockery of an Act passed by the Parliament. Its
attitude towards RTI gives bad name to the great institution,
responsible for ensuring proper implementation of rules as per law
applicable in the country.
http://www.merinews.com/article/sc-registry-makes-a-mockery-of-the-rti-act/15785825.shtml