Delhi High Court summons CBI’s CPIO over alleged contempt in response to Indian Forest Service Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi’s complaint regarding non-compliance with a court order issued on January 30, 2024.
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NEW DELHI: Recently, The Delhi High Court has summoned the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to address allegations of contempt. This action arises from a complaint filed by Indian Forest Service Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who alleges that the CPIO has failed to comply with a prior court order. The dispute revolves around the failure to adhere to a High Court directive issued on January 30, 2024.
The petition filed by Sanjiv Chaturvedi asserts that the Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has deliberately ignored the High Court’s ruling earlier this year. This contention originates from a directive issued by the Central Information Commission (CIC) in 2019, mandating the CPIO to provide information requested through a Right to Information (RTI) application.
During the court session, advocate Manoj Khanna, representing Chaturvedi, emphasized the sequence of events that led to the present scenario.
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He pointed out-
“On November 25, 2019, the Information Commissioner of the Central Information Commission (CIC) had directed the CPIO to provide information as sought in the RTI Application to the Appellant free of charge within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order. A compliance report to this effect shall be sent by the CPIO to the Commission.”
Khanna emphasized the decision of the Central Information Commission (CIC) to abstain from imposing a penalty on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), stating-
“The Commission has determined that there is no indication of malicious intent from the CPIO in withholding the information requested in the RTI Application. As a result, no action under Section 20 of the RTI Act is deemed necessary.”
Chaturvedi’s thorough list of transparency requests includes various important cases, showing a strong desire for accountability in government. The documents sought cover investigations into property transactions, alleged corruption in the AIIMS surgery department, and the fairness of CBI investigations. The repeated request for certified copies of file notes, documents, and correspondence indicates a firm commitment to discovering the truth.
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Further hearing scheduled for May 27, 2024.
