Thread by @OfficialSauravD

*NEWS*

Thread

For months now, I've been trying very hard for full disclosure of the making of Personal Data Protection Bill and the Justice Srikrishna Committee's work. All of this has been denied under RTI.

I had filed 3 Cases at the Central Info Commission.

Read on...

1/12

I moved the Madras HC seeking an urgent hearing in the matter bcuz if the Bill is passed in parliament, the cases at CIC would turn infructuous after 2 years. Court was pleased to direct so.

Now, this is what happened during the hearing at CIC and after-

2/12

@GoI_MeitY's officers raised new grounds for denying info. A copy of their written submissions was provided to me only 30 mins before hearing, after I hounded them for it.

I requested the CIC to allow me a day's time to file my counter to their new grounds for denial.

3/12

IC Vanaja N Sarna allowed. She also asked MeitY's officers to give detailed reasons and justify invoking this new exemption clause.

They didn't.

In my counter, I specifically told the CIC that MEITY has failed to justify denial & this is enough to order disclosure.

4/12

The spirit of Madras HC's order was that the CIC should decide whether info asked can be disclosed or not.

Instead...

the CIC simply passed the buck to the Ministry to justify the denial! Total abdication of responsibility by the CIC.

Orders attached.

5/12

A partial victory, however, with respect to my 2nd case.

CIC has ordered disclosure of certain files relating to appointment of certain entities to d Srikrishna Committee.

I made a specific request that Officers should sign an oath affidavit in case some info is not available.

This was accepted and will be done. Officers will be charged with perjury in case some info was later discovered to be illegally withheld or suppressed.

Also, some important observations made by the CIC, which could be useful for the public. Read on...

7/12

#KnowYourRights

CIC, on CPIO asking me to travel 2000 kms to conduct file inspection, held that-

"CPIO while offering inspection to any applicant should bear in mind all such extraneous factors and expenses involved before giving any such offer "

8/12

#KnowYourRights

CIC also held that-

"CPIO should henceforth suo-motu send a copy of any subsequent submissions to the appellant so that he gets ample time to prepare his arguments to rebut the contentions of the CPIO. The CPIO is therefore advised to be careful in..."

9/12

While I wait for the reply of the CPIO 'justifying their denial', a source within Lok Sabha confirmed to me that the Joint Parliamentary Committee on PDP Bill has finalised the report & it has been put up before Chairperson for final orders.

I have an appeal...

10/12

The work till now took a lot of time & hard work, over many months. The orders of CIC on my 3 cases will likely have to be challenged in Court & I would request anyone who can afford to contribute to my fund, to do so here- rzp.io/l/supportsaurav

This would help me in...

11/12

Upping my resources. I would also like to see if we can challenge the "parliamentary privilege" clause being claimed by MEITY and set a new precedent for everyone's benefit. Govts can't get away with passing laws that can prove draconian for us.

#FullDisclosureOnly

12/12