The Delhi High Court has directed the petitioner to approach the Central Information Commission (CIC) on an RTI application filed for the purpose of obtaining information related to ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’.
RTI applicant Neeraj Sharma had sought information on whether ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’ can be considered a ‘public authority’. He had also sought details of the Central Public Information Officers and the First Appellate Authority for the Trust.
The Central Government took the stand that ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’ is neither owned, controlled or financed by the Government of India. Therefore, it does not fall within the scope of the definition of ‘public authority’ under the RTI Act.
CIC, while disposing of the petitioner’s appeal in this regard on July 8, 2022, had said that the information cannot be provided. After this the Home Ministry claimed that the Trust is an autonomous body. The petitioner filed another appeal with the CIC, which was refused to be registered.
Justice Sanjeev Narula orally asked the petitioner’s counsel, “Why don’t you yourself seek judicial review from the CIC?” The petitioner’s counsel requested the court to direct the case to be sent back to the CIC and seek an expeditious decision. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Home Ministry, said that if the matter is again referred to the Commission, the government will not oppose it.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, said in the petition that the trust was formed on the directions of the Supreme Court and was notified by the Central Government. Therefore it should fall within the definition of ‘public authority’ under the RTI Act. The petition also said that as per law, any public authority must appoint a Public Information Officer (PIO) within 180 days of its formation, which was not done in the case of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas.