CJI under RTI Act

Syllabus subtopic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

News: The Supreme Court has held that office of the Chief Justice of India is a public authority under the transparency law, the Right to Information Act.

Prelims focus: About RTI Act 2005

Mains focus: Implications and outcomes of the verdict.

The landmark judgment was pronounced by five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

Background:

Previously, the Delhi High Court judgment which ruled that office of the Chief Justice comes under the purview of RTI.

A plea filed was filed by Supreme Court Secretary-General challenging Delhi High Court’s order.

The concept of judicial independence is not judge’s personal privilege but responsibility cast on the person, the HC had said in its ruling.

About the verdict:

The Supreme Court is a “public authority” and the office of the CJI is part and parcel of the institution. Hence, if the Supreme Court is a public authority, so is the office of the CJI.
The judiciary cannot function in total insulation as judges enjoy a constitutional post and discharge public duty.
However, Right to Privacy is an important aspect and has to be balanced with transparency while deciding to give out information from the office of the Chief Justice of India.
RTI cannot be used as a tool of surveillance and that judicial independence has to be kept in mind while dealing with transparency.

Key observations:

Transparency doesn’t undermine judicial independence.
Confidentiality and right to privacy have to be maintained and that RTI can’t be used for as a tool of surveillance.

What RTI act says?

Under the RTI Act, 2005, every public authority has to provide information to persons requesting for the information under the Act.
Public Authority includes the body constituted by or under the Constitution. Article 124 of the Constitution deals with the establishment of the Supreme Court of India.

Source: The Hindu

Join Our Telegram

Saffron cultivation in India

Rajasthan First State to Implement Biofuel Policy

02 Jul, 19
SHARE

Rajasthan First State to Implement Biofuel Policy: (GS-II(Policies) & GS-III(Environment)) Theme: Biofuel Policy Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to implement the national policy on biofuels unveiled by the Centre in May 2018. The desert State will lay emphasis on increasing production of oils

SEHAT Scheme for Teleconsultation

01 Feb, 22
SHARE

Services e-Health Assistance and Teleconsultation (SeHAT) is the tri-services teleconsultation service of the Ministry of Defense designed for all entitled personnel and their families. As part of the Government’s commitment to Digital India and e-Governance, Minister of Defense launched SeHAT on 27 May 2021. It has been a great exam

PM Poshan Scheme to replace Mid Day Meal Scheme

02 Feb, 22
SHARE

PM Poshan (Erstwhile Mid Day Meal) Scheme Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister POSHAN scheme or PM-POSHAN for providing one hot cooked meal in Government and Government-aided schools. The scheme will replace the existing national programme for mid-day meal in schools or Mid-day Meal Scheme (launched in 1995). It has been launched for a

National Initiative for Design Innovation (NIDI)

05 Feb, 22
SHARE

National Initiative for Design Innovation (NIDI) Government launched the scheme of “National Initiative for Design Innovation (NIDI)” in March, 2014. Scheme envisaged establishment of 20 Design Innovation Centres (DIC), One Open Design School (ODS) and One National Design Innovation Network (NDIN) across the country for promoti

Saffron cultivation in India

03 Feb, 22
SHARE

Saffron is a plant whose dried stigmas (thread-like parts of the flower) are used to make saffron spice. Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around the 1st Century BCE. Pampore region, in India, commonly known as Saffron bowl of Kashmir, is the main contributor to saffron p