Apex Court Order Clarifies That Appeal and Complaint Made Under RTI Act Are Different Mechanisms With Different Provisions for Reliefs to Info Seeker

8/11/2019 Apex Court Order Clarifies That Appeal and Complaint Made Under RTI Act Are Different Mechanisms With Differen

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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NOs.10787-10788 OF 2011

(Arising out of S.L.P(C) No.!"#$%!"#&'!)

C*i+f Infor,-tion Co,,r. -n Anot*+r ...A//+00-nt(s)

- Versus -

St-t+ of M-ni/ur -n Anot*+r ...R+s/on+nt(s)

J U D G M E N T

GANGULY, J.

. L+-1+ gr-nt+.

2. T*+s+ -//+-0s *-1+ 2++n fi0+ 23 t*+ C*i+f

Infor,-tion Co,,ission+r4 M-ni/ur -n on+ Mr.

5-*-ng2-, Jo36u,-r i,/ugning t*+ 7ug,+nt -t+

!&t* Ju03 ! /-ss+ 23 t*+ Hig* Court in 5rit

A//+-0 Nos. -n ! of !$ in 8onn+8tion 9it*

t9o 5rit P+tition No." of !" -n 5rit P+tition

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No. :"$ of !". T*+ ,-t+ri-0 f-8ts gi1ing ris+ to

t*+ 8ontro1+rs3 in t*is 8-s+ 8-n 2+ su,,-ri;+ -s

fo00o9s -s

8ont-in+ in Arti80+ &()(-) of t*+ Constitution

of Ini- -n -0so *+0 t*-t rig*t to infor,-tion

is +finit+03 - fun-,+nt-0 rig*t. In 8o,ing to

t*is 8on80usion4 t*is Court tr-8+ t*+ origin of

t*+ s-i rig*t fro, t*+ Uni1+rs-0 D+80-r-tion of

Hu,-n Rig*ts4 &:$ -n -0so Arti80+ & of t*+

Int+rn-tion-0 Co1+n-nt on Ci1i0 -n Po0iti8-0

Rig*ts4 9*i8* 9-s r-tifi+ 23 Ini- in &"$. T*is

Court -0so foun - si,i0-r +nun8i-tion of

/rin8i/0+ in t*+ D+80-r-tion of Euro/+-n

Con1+ntion for t*+ Prot+8tion of Hu,-n Rig*ts

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(&) -n foun t*-t t*+ s/irit of t*+ Uni1+rs-0

D+80-r-tion of &:$ is +8*o+ in Arti80+ &()(-)

of t*+ Constitution. (S++ /-r-s :4 :# :" -t

/-g+ :& of t*+ r+/ort)

#. T*+ ++r8is+ of 7ui8i-0 is8r+tion in f-1our of

fr++ s/++8* is not on03 /+8u0i-r to our

7uris/ru+n8+4 t*+ s-,+ is - /-rt of t*+

7uris/ru+n8+ in -00 t*+ 8ountri+s 9*i8* -r+

go1+rn+ 23 ru0+ of 0-9 9it* -n in+/+n+nt

7ui8i-r3. In t*is 8onn+8tion4 if 9+ ,-3 ?uot+

9*-t Lor A8ton s-i in on+ of *is s/++8*+s

". It is4 t*+r+for+4 80+-r t*-t - so8i+t3 9*i8*

-o/ts o/+nn+ss -s - 1-0u+ of o1+r-r8*ing

signifi8-n8+ not on03 /+r,its its 8iti;+ns - 9i+

r-ng+ of fr++o, of +/r+ssion4 it -0so go+s

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furt*+r in -8tu-003 o/+ning u/ t*+ +0i2+r-ti1+

/ro8+ss of t*+ @o1+rn,+nt its+0f to t*+ sun0ig*t

of /u20i8 s8rutin3.

$. Justi8+ Fr-n6furt+r -0so o/in+ T*+ f0-g is t*+ s3,2o0 of ourn-tion-0 unit34 tr-ns8+ning -00 int+rn-0iff+r+n8+s4 *o9+1+r 0-rg+4 9it*in t*+fr-,+9or6 of t*+ Constitution.>

&. A8tu-003 t*+ 8on8+/t of -8ti1+ 0i2+rt34 9*i8* is

stru8tur+ on fr++ s/++8*4 ,+-ns s*-ring of -

n-tions so1+r+ign -ut*orit3 -,ong its /+o/0+.

So1+r+ignt3 in1o01+s t*+ 0+giti,-83 of -

go1+rn,+nt-0 -8tion. An - s*-ring of so1+r+ign

-ut*orit3 sugg+sts inti,-t+ 8orr+0-tion 2+t9++n

t*+ fun8tioning of t*+ @o1+rn,+nt -n 8o,,on ,-ns

6no90+g+ of su8* fun8tioning.

(Active Liberty by Stephen Breyer page 15)

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!. Ho9+1+r4 9*i0+ 8onsi+ring t*+ 9it* -n s9++/ of

t*is rig*t -s 9+00 -s its fun-,+nt-0 i,/ort-n8+

in - +,o8r-ti8 r+/u20i84 t*is Court is -0so

8ons8ious t*-t su8* - rig*t is su27+8t to

r+-son-20+ r+stri8tions un+r Arti80+ &(!) of t*+

Constitution.

21. T*us not+ of 8-ution *-s 2++n soun+ 23 t*is

Court in D()esh T%(e&(, M.P. * O!he%s1. U)(#) #$

I)&(" * #!he%s (&&") : SCC # 9*+r+ it *-s

2++n *+0 -s fo00o9s

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(/-r- &4 /-g+ :)

!!. T*+ A8t *-s si C*-/t+rs -n t9o S8*+u0+s. Rig*t

to Infor,-tion *-s 2++n +fin+ un+r S+8tion !(7)

of t*+ A8t to ,+-n -s fo00o9s ,+-ns t*+ rig*t to

infor,-tion -88+ssi20+ un+r t*is A8t 9*i8* is

*+0 23 or un+r t*+ 8ontro0 of -n3 /u20i8-ut*orit3 -n in80u+s t*+ rig*t to%

(i) ins/+8tion of 9or64 o8u,+nts4 r+8ors

(ii) t-6ing not+s4 +tr-8ts4 or 8+rtifi+

8o/i+s of o8u,+nts or r+8ors

(iii) t-6ing 8+rtifi+ s-,/0+s of ,-t+ri-0

(i1) o2t-ining infor,-tion in t*+ for, of

is6+tt+s4 f0o//i+s4 t-/+s4 1i+o 8-ss+tt+s or

in -n3 ot*+r +0+8troni8 ,o+ or t*roug*

/rintouts 9*+r+ su8* infor,-tion is stor+ in -

8o,/ut+r or in -n3 ot*+r +1i8+>

!. Rig*t to Infor,-tion *-s -0so 2++n st-tutori03

r+8ognis+ un+r S+8tion of t*+ A8t -s fo00o9s

35. T*+ /ro8+ur+ for *+-ring t*+ -//+-0s *-1+ 2++n

fr-,+ in ++r8is+ of /o9+r un+r 80-us+s (+) -n

(f) of su2%s+8tion (!) of S+8tion !" of t*+ A8t.

T*+3 -r+ 8-00+ t*+ C+ntr-0 Infor,-tion Co,,ission

(A//+-0 Pro8+ur+) Ru0+s4 !. T*+ /ro8+ur+ of

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+8iing t*+ -//+-0s is 0-i o9n in Ru0+ of t*+

s-i Ru0+s.

T*+r+for+4 t*+ /ro8+ur+ 8ont+,/0-t+ un+r

S+8tion $ -n S+8tion & of t*+ s-i A8t is

su2st-nti-003 iff+r+nt. T*+ n-tur+ of t*+ /o9+r

un+r S+8tion $ is su/+r1isor3 in 8*-r-8t+r

9*+r+-s t*+ /ro8+ur+ un+r S+8tion & is -n

-//+00-t+ /ro8+ur+ -n - /+rson 9*o is -ggri+1+

23 r+fus-0 in r+8+i1ing t*+ infor,-tion 9*i8* *+

*-s soug*t for 8-n on03 s++6 r+r+ss in t*+ ,-nn+r

/ro1i+ in t*+ st-tut+4 n-,+034 23 fo00o9ing t*+

/ro8+ur+ un+r S+8tion &. T*is Court is4

t*+r+for+4 of t*+ o/inion t*-t S+8tion " r+- 9it*

S+8tion & /ro1i+s - 8o,/0+t+ st-tutor3 ,+8*-nis,

to - /+rson 9*o is -ggri+1+ 23 r+fus-0 to r+8+i1+

infor,-tion. Su8* /+rson *-s to g+t t*+

infor,-tion 23 fo00o9ing t*+ -for+s-i st-tutor3

/ro1isions. T*+ 8ont+ntion of t*+ -//+00-nt t*-t

infor,-tion 8-n 2+ -88+ss+ t*roug* S+8tion $ is

8ontr-r3 to t*+ +/r+ss /ro1ision of S+8tion & of

t*+ A8t. It is 9+00 6no9n 9*+n - /ro8+ur+ is 0-i

o9n st-tutori03 -n t*+r+ is no 8*-00+ng+ to t*+

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s-i st-tutor3 /ro8+ur+ t*+ Court s*ou0 not4 in

t*+ n-,+ of int+r/r+t-tion4 0-3 o9n - /ro8+ur+

9*i8* is 8ontr-r3 to t*+ +/r+ss st-tutor3

/ro1ision. It is - ti,+ *onour+ /rin8i/0+ -s

+-r03 -s fro, t*+ +8ision in T"3#% 1. T"3#%

($"#) C*. D. :!#K t*-t 9*+r+ st-tut+ /ro1i+s

for so,+t*ing to 2+ on+ in - /-rti8u0-r ,-nn+r it

8-n 2+ on+ in t*-t ,-nn+r -0on+ -n -00 ot*+r

,o+s of /+rfor,-n8+ -r+ n+8+ss-ri03 for2i+n.

T*is /rin8i/0+ *-s 2++n fo00o9+ 23 t*+ Jui8i-0

Co,,itt++ of t*+ Pri13 Coun8i0 in N"9(% Ah/"& 1.

E/e%#% AIR PC !()K -n -0so 23 t*is

Court in Dee Ch")&1. !"!e #$ R"'"s!h") AIR

SC !"4 (/-r- &)K -n -0so in !"!e #$ U.P.

1. ()h"%" ()h r+/ort+ in AIR : SC $

(/-r- $).

#. T*is Court -88+/ts t*+ -rgu,+nt of t*+ -//+00-nt

t*-t -n3 ot*+r 8onstru8tion 9ou0 r+n+r t*+

/ro1ision of S+8tion &($) of t*+ A8t tot-003

r+un-nt. It is on+ of t*+ 9+00 6no9n 8-nons of

int+r/r+t-tion t*-t no st-tut+ s*ou0 2+

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int+r/r+t+ in su8* - ,-nn+r -s to r+n+r - /-rt

of it r+un-nt or sur/0us-g+.

". 5+ -r+ of t*+ 1i+9 t*-t S+8tions $ -n & of t*+

A8t s+r1+ t9o iff+r+nt /ur/os+s -n 0-3 o9n t9o

iff+r+nt /ro8+ur+s -n t*+3 /ro1i+ t9o

iff+r+nt r+,+i+s. On+ 8-nnot 2+ - su2stitut+

for t*+ ot*+r.

38. It ,-3 2+ t*-t so,+ti,+ in st-tut+ 9ors -r+ us+

23 9-3 of -2un-nt 8-ution. T*+ s-,+ is not t*+

/osition *+r+. H+r+ - 8o,/0+t+03 iff+r+nt

/ro8+ur+ *-s 2++n +n-8t+ un+r S+8tion &. If

t*+ int+r/r+t-tion -1-n8+ 23 t*+ 0+-rn+ 8ouns+0

for t*+ r+s/on+nt is -88+/t+ in t*-t 8-s+

S+8tion & 9i00 2+8o,+ un9or6-20+ -n +s/+8i-003

S+8tion &($) 9i00 2+ r+n+r+ - sur/0us-g+. Su8*

-n int+r/r+t-tion is tot-003 o//os+ to t*+

fun-,+nt-0 8-nons of 8onstru8tion. R+f+r+n8+ in

t*is 8onn+8tion ,-3 2+ ,-+ to t*+ +8ision of

t*is Court in As5()( :+/"% Gh#se ")& ")#!he% 1.

A%"6()&" B#se ")& ")#!he% AIR &! SC #&. At

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/-g+ "" of t*+ r+/ort C*i+f Justi8+ P-t-n7-0i

S-stri *- 0-i o9n.

39. S-,+ 9-s t*+ o/inion of Justi8+ J-g-nn-*--s in

R"# h( B"h"&+% ()h ")& ")#!he% 1. !"!e #$

U.P. AIR & SC &: -t /-g+ &".

40. Justi8+ D-s @u/t- in J.:. C#!!#) ())() *

;e"() M(33s C#. L!&. 1. !"!e #$ U!!"% P%"&esh

")& #!he%s AIR SC " -t /-g+ ":

1irtu-003 r+it+r-t+ t*+ s-,+ /rin8i/0+s in t*+

fo00o9ing 9ors.

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41. It is 9+00%6no9n t*-t t*+ 0+gis0-tur+ o+s not

9-st+ 9ors or s-3 -n3t*ing in 1-in or for no

/ur/os+. T*us - 8onstru8tion 9*i8* 0+-s to

r+un-n83 of - /ortion of t*+ st-tut+ 8-nnot 2+

-88+/t+ in t*+ -2s+n8+ of 8o,/+00ing r+-sons. In

t*+ inst-nt 8-s+ t*+r+ is no 8o,/+00ing r+-son to

-88+/t t*+ 8onstru8tion /ut for9-r 23 t*+

r+s/on+nts.

:!. A/-rt fro, t*-t t*+ /ro8+ur+ un+r S+8tion & of

t*+ A8t4 9*+n 8o,/-r+ to S+8tion $4 *-s s+1+r-0

s-f+gu-rs for /rot+8ting t*+ int+r+st of t*+

/+rson 9*o *-s 2++n r+fus+ t*+ infor,-tion *+ *-s

soug*t. S+8tion &()4 in t*is 8onn+8tion4 ,-3 2+

r+f+rr+ to. S+8tion &() /uts t*+ onus to

7ustif3 t*+ +ni-0 of r+?u+st on t*+ infor,-tion

offi8+r. T*+r+for+4 it is for t*+ offi8+r to

7ustif3 t*+ +ni-0. T*+r+ is no su8* s-f+gu-r in

S+8tion $. A/-rt fro, t*-t t*+ /ro8+ur+ un+r

S+8tion & is - ti,+ 2oun on+ 2ut no 0i,it is

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/r+s8ri2+ un+r S+8tion $. So out of t*+ t9o

/ro8+ur+s4 2+t9++n S+8tion $ -n S+8tion &4 t*+

on+ un+r S+8tion & is ,or+ 2+n+fi8i-0 to -

/+rson 9*o *-s 2++n +ni+ -88+ss to infor,-tion.

:. T*+r+ is -not*+r -s/+8t -0so. T*+ /ro8+ur+ un+r

S+8tion & is -n -//+00-t+ /ro8+ur+. A rig*t of

-//+-0 is -09-3s - 8r+-tur+ of st-tut+. A rig*t of

-//+-0 is - rig*t of +nt+ring - su/+rior foru, for

in1o6ing its -i -n int+r/osition to 8orr+8t

+rrors of t*+ inf+rior foru,. It is - 1+r3

1-0u-20+ rig*t. T*+r+for+4 9*+n t*+ st-tut+

8onf+rs su8* - rig*t of -//+-0 t*-t ,ust 2+

++r8is+ 23 - /+rson 9*o is -ggri+1+ 23 r+-son

of r+fus-0 to 2+ furnis*+ 9it* t*+ infor,-tion.

In t*-t 1i+9 of t*+ ,-tt+r t*is Court o+s not

fin -n3 +rror in t*+ i,/ugn+ 7ug,+nt of t*+

Di1ision B+n8*. In t*+ /+nu0ti,-t+ /-r-gr-/* t*+

Di1ision B+n8* *-s ir+8t+ t*+ Infor,-tion

Co,,ission+r4 M-ni/ur to is/os+ of t*+ 8o,/0-ints

of t*+ r+s/on+nt no.! in -88or-n8+ 9it* 0-9 -s

+/+itious03 -s /ossi20+.

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::. T*is Court4 t*+r+for+4 ir+8ts t*+ -//+00-nts to

fi0+ -//+-0s un+r S+8tion & of t*+ A8t in

r+s/+8t of t9o r+?u+sts 23 t*+, for o2t-ining

infor,-tion 1i+ -//0i8-tions -t+ &.!.!" -n

&..!" 9it*in - /+rio of four 9++6s fro,

to-3. If su8* -n -//+-0 is fi0+ fo00o9ing t*+

st-tutor3 /ro8+ur+ 23 t*+ -//+00-nts4 t*+ s-,+

s*ou0 2+ 8onsi+r+ on ,+rits 23 t*+ -//+00-t+

-ut*orit3 9it*out insisting on t*+ /+rio of

0i,it-tion.

:. Ho9+1+r4 on+ -s/+8t is sti00 r+?uir+ to 2+

80-rifi+. T*is Court ,-6+s it 80+-r t*-t t*+

notifi8-tion -t+ ..! 9*i8* *-s 2++n

2roug*t on r+8or 23 t*+ 0+-rn+ 8ouns+0 for t*+

r+s/on+nt 1i+ I.A. No. of ! *-s 2++n /+rus+

23 t*+ Court. B3 1irtu+ of t*+ s-i notifi8-tion

issu+ un+r S+8tion !: of t*+ A8t4 t*+ @o1+rn,+nt

of M-ni/ur *-s notifi+ t*+ ++,/tion of 8+rt-in

org-ni;-tions of t*+ St-t+ @o1+rn,+nt fro, t*+

/ur1i+9 of t*+ s-i A8t. T*is Court ,-6+s it 80+-r

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t*-t t*os+ notifi8-tions 8-nnot -//03

r+tros/+8ti1+03. A/-rt fro, t*-t t*+ s-,+

++,/tion o+s not 8o1+r -00+g-tions of 8orru/tion

-n *u,-n rig*t 1io0-tions. T*+ rig*t of t*+

r+s/on+nts to g+t t*+ infor,-tion in ?u+stion

,ust 2+ +8i+ on t*+ 2-sis of t*+ 0-9 -s it

stoo on t*+ -t+ 9*+n t*+ r+?u+st 9-s ,-+. Su8*

rig*t 8-nnot 2+ +f+-t+ on t*+ 2-sis of -

notifi8-tion if issu+ su2s+?u+nt03 to ti,+ 9*+n

t*+ 8ontro1+rs3 -2out t*+ rig*t to g+t infor,-tion

is /+ning 2+for+ t*+ Court. S+8tion !: of t*+ A8t

o+s not *-1+ -n3 r+tros/+8ti1+ o/+r-tion.

T*+r+for+4 no notifi8-tion issu+ in ++r8is+ of

t*+ /o9+r un+r S+8tion !: 8-n 2+ gi1+n

r+tros/+8ti1+ +ff+8t -n +s/+8i-003 so in 1i+9 of

t*+ o27+8t -n /ur/os+ of t*+ A8t 9*i8* *-s -n

in*+r+nt *u,-n rig*t 8ont+nt.

:#. T*+ -//+-0s 9*i8* t*+ r+s/on+nts *-1+ 2++n gi1+n

0i2+rt3 to fi0+4 if fi0+ 9it*in t*+ ti,+

s/+8ifi+4 9i00 2+ +8i+ in -88or-n8+ 9it*

S+8tion & of t*+ A8t -n -s +-r03 -s /ossi20+4

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/r+f+r-203 9it*in t*r++ ,ont*s of t*+ir fi0ing.

5it* t*+s+ ir+8tions 2ot* t*+ -//+-0s -r+

is/os+ of.

:". T*+r+ 9i00 2+ no or+r -s to 8osts.

.......................J.

(ASO UMAR @AN@UL)

.......................J.

N+9 D+0*i (@AN SUDHA MISRA)

D+8+,2+r !4 !

Documents

Apex Court Order Clarifies That Appeal and Complaint Made Under RTI Act Are Different Mechanisms With Different Provisions for Reliefs to Info Seeker