Use of section 8 for denying information

[baburaok]

Hi! Members,

A friend of mine asked for information pertaining to Outer Ring Road proposed for Hyderabd from APPCB. He gets a reply as follows:

"The Technical Committee of the Board is an advisory committee. Hence, it may not be possible to give the minutes of the technical committee as they are meant for internal purposes." .....

"The Board cannot give the information submitted by the HUDA as per the provisions of Sec. 8 of the Right to Information Act. You are requested to approach the authorities of HUDA/ORR directly and obtain the information."

Is it right to reject the information on the grounds given above? HUDA is also a public body. Is there any provision in section 8 that prevents giving information from a third party concerning public welfare?

Please give your comments.

K. Babu Rao

[mpai]

Originally Posted by baburaok

Hi! Members,

A friend of mine asked for information pertaining to Outer Ring Road proposed for Hyderabd from APPCB. He gets a reply as follows:

"The Technical Committee of the Board is an advisory committee. Hence, it may not be possible to give the minutes of the technical committee as they are meant for internal purposes." .....

"The Board cannot give the information submitted by the HUDA as per the provisions of Sec. 8 of the Right to Information Act. You are requested to approach the authorities of HUDA/ORR directly and obtain the information."

Is it right to reject the information on the grounds given above? HUDA is also a public body. Is there any provision in section 8 that prevents giving information from a third party concerning public welfare?

Please give your comments.

K. Babu Rao

Simply by claiming excemption under Section 8 of the RTI Act without any proper justification is wrong. I do not have full details on your query. To what I can understand from your limited information posted, to the best of my knowledge I feel that meeting minutes of all such Public Bodies concerning public works like Outer Ring Road are public documents. They have to give this information under Section 4 (a) as also (b)(iii).

You may appeal, quoting the above clauses.

Manoj Pai

[baburaok]

Thank you Mr. Pai for the clarification on section 8 of RTI. We will appeal as per your suggestion. Thanks again.

Regards,
K. Babu Rao