DoPT finally agrees file noting covered under RTI Act

NEW DELHI: Six days before the final hearing at Central Information Commission on disclosure of file noting, the Department of Personnel and Training has agreed that they can be made public under the RTI Act, thus bringing an end to contentious issue.

The Department, in a circular issued yesterday, said, "It is hereby clarified that file noting can be disclosed except those containing information exempt from disclosure under Section 8 of the Act."

DoPT's move comes after the Commission had issued notices to two officers of the department seeking explanation why they should not be prosecuted under IPC for disobeying its orders.

The Commission in its repeated directives had asked the department to correct its website which said that file noting could not be disclosed under the Act.

CIC's order that file noting were covered under the RTI Act was accepted by the law ministry and Supreme Court but DoPT continued to maintain on the web site that they were exempted from disclosure.