2 weeks ago
Karnataka RTI Petitioners Challenge Blacklisting Over Appeals Backlog
The Karnataka High Court is examining a dispute involving nine people who filed many requests under the Right to Information Act.
The Karnataka Information Commission later blacklisted them.
The commission says these applicants filed more than 20,000 second appeals.
It says this has made it harder to hear other appeals.
There are about 45,000 second appeals waiting to be decided.
The commission’s lawyer said that removing four of the petitioners could cut the backlog in half.
The nine applicants are challenging the blacklisting.
The court said it may need to act to help genuine applicants.
The Karnataka High Court heard petitions from nine RTI activists challenging their blacklisting by the Karnataka Information Commission.
The court was told that more than half of Karnataka’s 45,000 pending second appeals were filed by these nine people.
The commission’s counsel said the petitioners had filed more than 20,000 appeals, clogging the system.
Counsel G B Sharath Gowda said removing four petitioners could reduce the commission’s overall pendency by 50 percent.
The High Court indicated it may intervene to protect applicants whose appeals are considered genuine.
- Who
- Nine RTI activists, the Karnataka Information Commission, and the Karnataka High Court are involved.
- What
- The activists are challenging a Karnataka Information Commission order blacklisting them over their RTI appeals.
- Where
- The matter was heard in the Karnataka High Court and concerns the Karnataka Information Commission.
- When
- The petitions were heard on Wednesday.
- Why
- The commission says the applicants’ more than 20,000 appeals are clogging the system and delaying genuine appeals; the applicants are challenging the blacklisting order.
RTI Petitioners
Karnataka Information Commission
Blacklisting order
RTI Petitioners
The nine RTI activists are challenging the commission’s decision to blacklist them.
Karnataka Information Commission
The commission has defended the action by highlighting the large number of appeals attributed to the petitioners.
Effect on the backlog
RTI Petitioners
The petitioners’ position is being considered by the High Court as it reviews their challenge.
Karnataka Information Commission
The commission’s counsel said more than 20,000 appeals filed by the nine applicants are clogging the system and preventing genuine appeals from being heard and decided.
Key facts
- Pending second appeals
- About 45,000 before the Karnataka Information Commission
- Applicants involved
- Nine RTI activists
- Appeals attributed to them
- More than 20,000 second appeals
- Commission’s claim
- Their appeals are clogging the system and delaying genuine appeals
- Potential reduction
- The commission’s counsel said removing four petitioners could reduce pendency by 50 percent
- Legal challenge
- The nine activists have petitioned the Karnataka High Court against blacklisting
Quotes
G B Sharath Gowda
Advocate representing the nine RTI activists
“If we weed out four of the petitioners, the total pendency before the KIC would come down by 50 per cent.”
indianexpress.com
