Latest news with #StateInformationCommission
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bar associations fall under ambit of RTI Act, rules state information panel in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bar associations in Kerala will come under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the State Information Commission has ruled. State Information Commissioner Sreekumar M issued the ruling on a petition filed by Adv T K Sathyanathan against the Kozhikode Bar Association, after the latter refused to respond to his RTI query. Sathyanathan alleged the association denied reply on the grounds that they were not covered by the RTI Act. The Kozhikode district collector informed the commission that the association was functioning rent-free in a government-owned building located on government land. The commission then observed that this could be construed as indirect funding by the government and therefore the bar association comes under the ambit of Section 2 (h) of the RTI Act, 2005, and becomes a public body. The commission observed that bar associations in Kerala, which are thus part of the judiciary and operate through indirect appropriation of public property, are covered by sections 2 (h) (d) and 2 (h) (ii) of the RTI Act, 2005. The commission has asked the Kozhikode Bar Association to provide an explanation within 15 days so as not to attract penalty as per Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act for not providing a timely reply to the petitioner. The commission observed that the associations have to function with the transparency and accountability expected from a public institution.
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala State Information Commission rules courts not exempt from RTI Act
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Courts are not outside the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and as per Rule 12 of the law, not all information can be denied to an applicant, the State Information Commission has ruled. In an order, State Information Commissioner (SIC) A Abdul Hakeem noted that some court staff turn down RTI applications. The SIC said no information other than that pertaining to judicial proceedings should be withheld. At a time when courts, including the Supreme Court webcast their proceedings live, the practice of lower courts denying information under RTI is an offence and is punishable. A citizen is entitled to get information on all matters other than those before the consideration of judicial officers and part of judicial proceedings, the SIC said. The commission's order was based on a complaint against the information officer at the Chalakudy Munsif court in Thrissur. Joseph Jacob from Malappuram had given RTI applications seeking information in 2021 June and July but they were turned down by the information officer on the grounds that court-related matters cannot be divulged under Rule 12. When the commission sought a report, the information sought by Joseph was provided by a new information officer. Since Joseph persisted with his complaint against the previous officer, the commission decided to punish him under Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act for denying the information to the applicant. The official has been summoned for a hearing on May 28.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Courts are not outside the ambit of the RTI Act: State Information Commission
Courts are not outside the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and they cannot deny all information on the strength of Rule 12 governing subordinate courts and tribunals, the State Information Commission has said. Observing that some court officials were denying all information sought under the RTI Act, State Information Commissioner A. Abdul Hakkim said they are not empowered to do so as only judicial proceedings are exempted from disclosure under the Act. The commission's order came on a complaint filed by Joseph Jacob of Chelambra, Malappuram, against the Information Officer of the Munsiff Court, Chalakudy. 'Punishable offence' At a time when the Supreme Court and other major courts of the country are telecasting court proceedings live, denial of information by the lower courts is a punishable offence. Only matters under the consideration of judicial officers and judicial proceedings are exempted from the ambit of the RTI. A citizen is entitled to all other information from the courts, according to Mr. Hakkim's order. Mr. Jacob had filed two applications in the Munsiff Court in June and July 2021. However, the Information Officer concerned, Ajith Kumar, had denied him the information on the grounds that Rule 12 exempted courts from giving out information. Mr. Joseph had sought copies of auction Sanad, Vakalatnama and related documents. But the officer had taken the stand that the application need not be entertained on the strength of Rule 12 pertaining to subordinate courts and tribunals. When the commission sought a report from the court on the basis of Mr. Joseph's petition, the new information officer gave him the information. But Mr. Joseph stood firm on his complaint, and the commission had decided to initiate action against Mr. Ajith Kumar under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act. The latter has been directed to appear before the commission on May 28.
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- New Indian Express
MG varsity's self-financing institutions come under RTI Act, rules info panel
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Information Commission has ruled that self-financing educational institutions under the Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) will come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. It includes institutions directly run by the university as well as those affiliated with the university. The Centre for Professional and Advanced Studies (CPAS) which coordinates the functioning of these institutions will also come under the Act's purview, said an order issued by Information Commission A Abdul Hakkim. The order came on appeal over the denial of information by the Nursing Education Institute at Chuttippara in Pathanamthitta. The complainant was T Sajeev, father of Ammu Sajeev, who died at the institute's hostel on November 15, 2024. The institution's management denied information regarding the death. The institute had claimed that the RTI Act was not applicable for self-financing institutions. The commission observed that the institute's action was illegal. The commission had earlier directed the institute to provide the requested information free of cost before February 19. The latest order came based on the father's second complaint. The commission asked the director of the nursing institute at Chuttippara to provide the requested info free of cost before May 17. The receipt should be submitted to the commission by May 20. The commission stated that an institution established as per the directions in the Constitution or under a law will come under the ambit of RTI.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Ayodhya Reddy, 3 others appointed as RTI Commissioners
Hyderabad: The State government appointed four new Commissioners to the State Information Commission under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The newly appointed RTI Commissioners include CM CPRO and senior journalist Boreddy Ayodhya Reddy and senior scribe PV Srinivasa Rao. The two other new Commissioners are Mohsina Parveen and Deshala Bhoopal. The appointments of RTI Commissioners have been pending for long, as Governor Jishnu Dev Varma sough some clarification on the eligibility of the candidates whose names were forwarded to Raj Bhavan recently. Senior officer of the Indian Forest Service, Chandrashekhar Reddy was already appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner.
