Donations cannot be treated differently from subsidy given by the Government
29 Mar, 2013Ref: Is Public Charitable Trust a legal person?
Comment: A relevant High Court judgment is given below:
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI SUBJECT : Right to Information Act Judgment reserved on: 29.05.2012 Judgment delivered on: 14.06.2012
W.P.(C) 3382/2012
PRESIDENT’S SECRETARIAT Versus NITISH KUMAR TRIPATHI
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIPIN SANGHI
Public funds are those funds which are collected by the state from the citizens by imposition of taxes, duties, cess, services charges, etc. These funds are held by the state in trust for being utilized for the benefit of the general public. Every citizen is entitled to know as to how the money, which is collected by the State from him by exaction has been utilized.
The donations from out of public fund cannot be treated differently from subsidy given by the Government to the citizens under various welfare schemes. The donations given by the President of India out of the public funds cannot be treated differently from the subsidy given by the government given to the citizens under various welfare schemes. The people of India have a right to know about such donations.
Dr Mukesh Babu Goyal