NEW DELHI, APR 13: In a verdict which may have a far-reaching consequence in the future, the Central Information Commission (
CIC) on Friday directed the department of bio-technology (DBT) to make public the data generated from the tests carried out on transgenic crops by agro-biotech companies.
Chief commissioner Wajahat Habibullah delivered this right to information (
RTI) power-punch, in response to an petition filed by Greenpeace India, after the review committee on genetic modification (RCGM) under DBT consistently refused to part with this closely guarded secret for over a year. Striking down the DBT's contention that the data falls under Section 8.1.(d), Habibullah pointed out that the request of the applicant for toxicity and allergenicity tests on genetically modified (GM) rice, mustard, okra and brinjal cannot be refused under the
RTI Act. Any further grounds for non-disclosure are invalid even if the data in reference are in the process of development. The information was also directed to be disclosed under section 4. (1). (d) of the
RTI Act, which states " provide reasons for its administrative or quasi judicial decisions to affected persons.” Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan who appeared pleaded before the
CIC on behalf of Greenpeace India said,” The Commission's order is significant as past experience shows that RCGM has not used the right kind of protocols for bio-safety testing". In February, last year, Greenpeace India had requested the RCGM to make public the toxicity and allergenicity data for four GM crops alongwith the minutes of the meeting. "Our victory today is in keeping with the spirit of the
RTI, and has only strengthened the
RTI as a tool to building a participatory democracy, " Divya Raghunandan of Greenpeace India.
Info body gives bio-tech dept a RTI power-punch