CBI Not Exempt from RTI Act, Must Disclose Corruption Information: Delhi High Court

CBI Not Exempt from RTI Act, Must Disclose Corruption Information: Delhi High Court

VoM News Desk | February 3, 2024 | 06:41 PM IST | Breaking News, Courts & Law | Follow on Google News

CBI Not Exempt from RTI Act, Must Disclose Corruption Information: Delhi High Court

CBI Not Exempt from RTI Act, Must Disclose Corruption Information: Delhi High Court

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is not entirely exempt from the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The court clarified that transparency laws permit the CBI to provide information related to corruption and human rights violations. The decision stemmed from a CBI challenge to a 2019 Central Information Commission directive instructing the agency to disclose certain information to Indian Forest Service officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi. The court emphasized that Section 24 of the RTI Act does not act as a complete bar, and exceptions apply, allowing disclosure in cases of corruption and human rights violations.

Case Background: CBI Directed to Share Information on Corruption Allegations

The court’s order followed a plea by the CBI challenging a 2019 decision by the Central Information Commission, which directed the agency to share information with officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi regarding alleged corruption in the purchase of medical supplies. Chaturvedi, seeking details of a CBI investigation, had approached the CIC after the CBI declined to provide the information. The High Court’s decision underscores the balance between transparency and sensitive information, allowing disclosure in appropriate cases involving corruption allegations.

Judicial Interpretation: CBI Can’t Claim Blanket Exemption

Justice Subramonium Prasad clarified that the CBI cannot claim a blanket exemption from the RTI Act. The proviso to Section 24 allows information related to corruption and human rights violations to be disclosed. The court emphasized that the purpose of the proviso is to permit the sharing of information in cases of corruption allegations. It noted that the nature of sensitivity in each case should be evaluated, and the CBI has the option to establish when information is genuinely sensitive, allowing refusal based on the nature of the investigation.

VoM News Desk

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