[HumJanenge] COURTS AND DISCLOSURES UNDER RTI ACT ON DONATION BY PREZ OFFICE

The bench of acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw of Delhi High Court has stayed the decision of single bench on the disclosure of donations made out of Presidents fund. The decision given by Justice Vipin Sanghi on 14th June upholding the CIC's decision was challenged by the President's office. In his decision, Justice Sanghi stated,

"Every citizen is entitled to know as to how the money, which is collected by the state from him by exaction has been utilized. Merely because the person making the donation happens to be the President of India is no ground to withhold the said information."

Now the double bench has now said,

"disclosure of information has no relationship to any public activity or interest. The impugned order is erroneous and liable to be set aside."

One may wonder about the reason why the President's Secretariat want to keep the name of the receiver of the donation and the amount when it has been made out of the money paid the citizens. In this context, the conclusion drawn by the larger bench of the DHC that disclosure of information has no relation to any public activity or interest is debatable. Don't know if we are heading towards transprency or secrecy.