Records must reflect a true and correct state of affairs at the Central Information Commission
28 May, 2016
Record of Proceedings
1. Vide Order dated 23rd March, 2016 in the case of R.K. Jain v. CIC, the Delhi High Court had directed the Central Information Commission (CIC) to maintain the daily order sheets (Record of Proceedings) reflecting the true and correct state of affairs of the proceedings.
2. This order was issued on a petition filed by Shri R.K. Jain against the CIC on the ground that during hearing his appeal was allowed, but in the order which was passed by CIC after a long delay, the appeal was dismissed.
3. On a prayer by the counsel for CIC, the High Court had given six months’ time to CIC to evolve a procedure in this respect and start maintaining daily order sheets. Earlier, the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the case of Fruit & Merchant Union v. CIC had issued similar directions. The latest order of Delhi High Court is expected to make the working of CIC more transparent.
4. The other Tribunals including CAT, National Green Tribunal, Telecom Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, Competition Appellate Tribunal and Armed Forces Tribunal are already maintaining a daily order sheet.
5. In the interest of transparency, it would be best that the CIC should place such daily order sheets on its website. It would be prudent not to wait for six months and implement the order immediately.
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2016/CIC/1484
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission