Seeking information regarding statement made in Lok-Sabha using RTI

Background

The appellant filed an application under Right to Information (RTI) Act and raised some queries based on a newspaper report relating to a statement given by Shri LK Advani in the Lok Sabha to the effect that the Chief Justice of India had not permitted the government to get the services of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to enquire into the Gujarat riots. The Public Information Officer (PIO) observed that respondent could not be expected to offer any advice or opinion on such matters, implying that no such information was available.

View of CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC) dismissed the appeal noting that the information sought by appellant cannot be classified as information as defined under section 2(f) “information” means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force; of the RTI Act.

Citation: Mr. Malkiat Singh Bajwa v. Supreme Court of India in File No.CIC/SM/A/2011/000786