Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd (Mahyco), the seed partner of multinational agro-biotech major Monsanto Corporation, has moved the Delhi High Court against a Central Information Commission order seeking details of the safety test data generated during clinical trials of its genetically modified (GM) brinjal, the first GM edible crop to be introduced in India.
Rejecting the Prime Minister's Office's refusal to provide a list of classified files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Central Information Commission has asked it to make public a list of 29 such files.
Central Information Commission has held that funding from RBI makes an institution is adequate to make it accountable under RTI.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has turned down an application seeking cost-related information on the country's unique fast-breeder reactor being developed at Kalpakkam.
The bench headed by Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah was hearing RTI appeals against five public authorities, seeking disclosure of answer sheets of different examinations.
The CIC, which was hearing the RTI appeal of one Uma Jayaram, expressed its anguish over the 'apathetic attitude' of RPO Gloria Kumar, who in an earlier order was penalised with Rs 16,000 for failing to provide information on time.
In a landmark decision the Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that the income tax returns of political parties will come under the purview of the Right to Information Act (RTI). The move will, it is hoped, enable the public to get details on the funding sources of political parties.
The CIC made its recommendation under the mandate of the RTI Act which requires computerisation of the records of all public authorities.
The CIC's order of April 13 had also directed DBT to disclose bio-safety data of rice, okra (lady's finger) and mustard, after an Right to Information application was filed by Greenpeace activist Divya Raghunandan.
The Central Information Commission's decision to bring stock exchanges within the purview of Right to Information Act will keep the bourses on high alert and ensure that necessary information is made available to public in cases of manipulation.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled out disclosure of any information relating to medical tests under the RTI Act, while terming the relationship between a doctor and his patient as "fiduciary".
The CPIO had said that the file was destroyed in 1972 during the routine process of review and weeding of old records.
The CIC, the top appellate body in RTI matters, went through the law, orders of the Supreme Court, the Law Commission of India report, submissions of the Central Public Information Officer in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to conclude that the status, nature and functional characteristics of the BCCI fulfil required conditions of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.
Wadia had filed a writ petition in the Bombay high court seeking a declaration that the possession of the property, Jinnah House, by the Indian government was illegal and prayed for restoration of the same to the petitioner.
The commission has also sought records related to the termination of the deal to be presented before it in an in camera proceedings for its perusal before deciding whether they can be disclosed under the RTI Act or they attract its exemption clauses.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is expected to keep a tab on cases under trial involving it, has claimed it has no records of the cases pending in various courts throughout the country.
Dragged to courts by stock exchanges, Central Information Commission now wants the Supreme Court to resolve whether bourses can be brought under the purview of the Right to Information Act or not.
"The RTI Act is potentially a very powerful legislation. We are probably the most advanced in the whole world in terms of the act, but not necessarily in terms of its implementation," said Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah
The Central Information Commission has held that Income Tax department need not furnish information to aggrieved parties on action taken by it till the investigations were completed.
The panel had first visited the Valley in October after which it had recommended an immediate ban on use of pellet guns by security forces.
The Central Information Commission has taken serious note of the government withholding information on the expenses incurred in the investigation of the Bofors pay off case.
It said the Central and state governments must make adequate fiscal allocations for computerisation and connectivity from Information Commission level to divisions and sub-division level public authorities so as to effectively operationalise the provisions of the RTI Act.
"Why cannot the marks under each category of tests (in CAT) as well as the group of aspirants, general and others, be revealed," Information Commissioner M M Ansari sought to know in a recent order on a RTI plea by Mumbai resident Sameer Arora.
The CIC has ruled that judicial proceedings of all courts and tribunals are beyond the purview of the Right to Information Act.The bench said 'The Judiciary is independent and all courts and tribunals must work independently and without interference.
Data from the Central Information Commission, the apex body that hears complaints regarding denial of information under RTI, shows that corporate houses are increasingly using RTI to extract information from public authorities.
Taking note of two files which had reference to the destruction of the file, as produced by the PMO during the hearing, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah directed the Prime Minister's Office to provide its copies to Dhar within a week
The Central Information Commission has made it clear through its decisions that disclosure of file notings under the RTI Act could be made to information seekers.
The Central Information Commission has directed the President's Secretariat to furnish 'file notings' on its decision to seek Election Commission's opinion on a petition against a cabinet minister.
Despite the incessant disruptions and bitter clashes between political parties witnessed in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, lawmakers from across the political spectrum will display rare unanimity in the coming days to pass two bills aimed at protecting their interests.
The Congress chief said if his party is elected to power, its government would spend 6 per cent of the GDP on education.
Acting on an Right to Information application, the commission asked the MEA to furnish the records by June 29.
With tags of 'patriots' and 'anti-nationals' being at the centre of debate, the Central Information Commission has asked the home ministry to make public the list of people who are facing sedition charges for indulging in alleged anti-national activities.
Last year, there was no convention because the government had not appointed any chief information commissioner, who happens to be administrative head of the commission and oversees preparations of the function.
The Walmart case came before the CIC on a plea by activist Subhash Agrawal.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is likely to challenge the Central Information Commission's ruling that the cricket board be brought under the Right to Information act with a top official accusing the Committee of Administrators (COA) of 'wilful negligence' in dealing with the matter.
During the hour-long proceedings, the ministry was at the receiving end as it failed to explain its reasoning that providing the documents could lead to unrest in the country, including in Netaji's home state of West Bengal.
The government has said the changes will be 'clarificatory'.
'The exemption given by the government to the CBI appears to be have been guided by its desire to stop exposure of corruption which goes against the preamble of the RTI Act which aims to curb corruption,' says former Chief Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi.
For the past 10 years or more, the RBI has been turning down dozens of applications under the RTI Act that sought disclosing the list of wilful defaulters and the RBI's inspection reports. In fact, it is the only organisation that has a granular and complete view of the heist that has been going on for 25 years at least. But it has escaped any blame for the multiple rounds of bankruptcy and massive periodic recapitalisation of public sector banks caused by bad loans. In fact, they don't want anyone to know how incompetent and collusive they have been in handling bad loans, says Debashis Basu.
Political parties should not be brought under the ambit of the Right to Information Act by terming them 'public authorities', as this would not only hamper their smooth working but help political rivals to file pleas with malicious intention to seek information, the government told the Supreme Court on Monday.
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