CIC DISMISSES APPEAL AGAINST NON-DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION SOUGHT FROM SC REGARDING 38 PETITIONS IN AADHAR CARD

15^TH NOVEMBER

In the case of Justice K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, the Central Information Commissioner rejected an appeal regarding non-disclosure of information in about 38 petitions from the Supreme Court aadhar card matter. The appeal has been filed by Anupam Saraph demanding disclosure of information through an RTI before the supreme court. It requested a copy of the prayers of each of the 38 petitions.

The petitioner also opposed that under the domain of section 4(1)(c) and 4(1)(d), 4(2) and 4(3) of the RTI Act, the information should be made available on the official website of the court. Still, no provision regarding the same has been made. CIC Y. K. Sinha observed thus, in this regard: "Section 4 lays down mandates for the public authority to adhere to for suo moto disclosure of information, while only Section 6 of the RTI Act enables citizens to enquire about the information. The scope of the various sections of law is laid down and cannot be used interchangeably. Thus the Appellant's contention that he had sought information under Section 4 of the RTI Act is legally flawed and not maintainable under the RTI Act because information can be sought only under provisions of Section 6 of the Act, even if to enforce or challenge action or inaction of the public authority, as envisaged under Section 4 of the RTI Act."

Author: Shweta Singh