Justify the denial of information; don't merely cite an exemption clause, CIC tells CBI

New Delhi: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has issued a showcause notice to department of personnel and training for wrongful denial of information under Right to Information (RTI) Act on a 1963 resolution issued for constitution of CBI.

Information Commissioner Vanaja N Sarna has issued a showcause notice to the central public information officer S P R Tripathi to explain why penalty should not be imposed on him for “prima facie obstruction of information and providing an evasive reply”. Sarna has summoned Tripathi to appear in person on December 16 to showcause as to why action should not be initiated against him under Section 20 of RTI Act. The transparency legislation provides for a penalty of upto Rs 25,000 (to be deducted from the salary of the concerned information officer).

The showcause notice has been served in the case of applicant Jagjit Singh, who had applied for information under RTI Act in October 2018.