The Delhi High Court held that the PM CARES Fund does not lose its right to privacy under the RTI Act merely because it is managed or controlled by the government. The Court clarified that third-party privacy protections under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act apply equally to public and private entities.
Supreme Court Judge Justice Narasimha emphasized the need to keep India’s constitutional institutions free from political influence. Speaking at the Justice ES Venkataramiah Centennial Memorial Lecture at NLSIU, Bengaluru, he highlighted the importance of protecting the integrity of these institutions. He explained that staying neutral is crucial for these bodies to uphold the Constitution and serve the public fairly.
The State Bank of India refuses to disclose electoral bond SOPs, citing “commercial confidence” and intellectual property concerns. An advocate’s appeal for transparency has been denied, leading to escalation to the Central Information Commission. This reflects broader concerns about transparency in political funding, highlighting the tension between transparency advocates and institutions prioritizing confidentiality.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to disclose information about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). This decision followed a second appeal by retired civil servant MG Devasahayam. The ECI must provide the requested data within 30 days. Compliance with the order is mandatory.
The Delhi High Court has summoned the CPIO of the CBI due to non-compliance with a court order, following a complaint by Sanjiv Chaturvedi. The CIC had directed the CPIO to provide information under the RTI Act, but this was allegedly ignored. Chaturvedi seeks transparency in property transactions and corruption allegations in the government.
On October 30, the Supreme Court expressed its unease over the enduring vacancies in Information Commissions throughout the country. The apex court directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to produce a detailed chart, capturing the number of vacancies and juxtaposing them with the volume of appeals and complaints across all commissions. Moreover, the […]
