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CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION

(Room No.315, B-Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Pla!, N!w"!lhi 11# #$$%

Prof. M. Sridhar Acharyulu (Madabhushi Sridhar)

Infora!ion Coission"r

CIC#SA#A#$%&'#%%%'(*id"o Conf"r"nc" + Ah"dna,ar)

-"an! ha,"/ Ah"dna,ar *s. "0ar!"n! of L",al Affairs/ 1OI

I0or!an! a!"s2

R&' Aliation) **-+-*#1 1st A!al) 1*-11-*#1 *n A!al) *-3-*#15

/!aring) *+-#*-*#1$ "!ision)1*.3.*#1$ R!sult) 0inist!r is uliauthorit2 un!r R&'

1. Both th! arti!s ar! not r!s!nt.

FACTS2

*. A!llant 2 his R&' aliation at! *#.11.*#1 has ar!ss! th!aitional riat! s!r!tar2 o4 /onl! 0inist!r 4or 6aw an 7usti!,s!!king to know 8Wh!th!r an2 tim! is sh!ul! 4or ommon !ol! tom!!t th! Cain!t 0inist!r an 0inist!r o4 9tat! in th! 0inist!rs o44i! inth! 0antraala2 (9!r!tariat%: '4 2!s, l!as! in4orm th! timing o4 m!!tingth! minist!r, oth in ;nglish an /ini

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Issu"s2

5. &hough th! arti!s w!r! not r!s!nt 4rom !ith!r si!, it is th! ut2 o4 th! Commission to !?amin! th! ont!nts o4 th! r!>u!st an l!galossiilit2 o4 roiing a!ss to th! in4ormation h!l 2 th! 0inist!r. A

r!aing o4 R&' aliation, l!as us to two issu!s. Wh!th!r h! has a rightto s!!k suh in4ormation h!l 2 0inist!r or his o44i!: '4 2!s, wh!th!rCommission an ir!t th! 80inist!r< to roi! in4ormation, whih!!ns on th! >u!stion wh!th!r 80inist!r< is a @uli authorit2 un!rR&' At: &hus, two >u!stions !4or! us ar!)

a) Is Minister or his office a ‘public authority’ under RTI Act?

% Whether a citizen has right to information sought and does theminister has corresponding obligation to gi!e?

 Is ‘Minister’ a ‘public authority’? 

$. &h! t!rm Puli Authorit2 is !4in! 2 9!tion *(h% o4 Right to

'n4ormation At, *##5 as 4ollows)

0ublic au!hori!y m!ans an2 au!hori!y or o2 or institution o4 

s!l4- go!rnm!nt !stalish! or cons!i!u!"d

a% by or und"r !h" Cons!i!u!ion

% 2 an2 oth!r law ma! 2 Parliam!nt

% 2 an2 oth!r law ma! 2 9tat! 6!gislatur!

% 2 noti4iation issu! or or!r ma! 2 th! aroriat!Do!rnm!nt, an inlu!s an2 (i% o2 own!, ontroll! orsustantiall2 4inan! (ii% non-Do!rnm!nt organiEationsustantiall2 4inan!, ir!tl2 or inir!tl2 2 4uns roi! 2th! aroriat! Do!rnm!nt

. Both ommons!ns! an Constitution sugg!sts 0inist!r is an authorit2

onstitut! @2 an un!r th! Constitution. &h!r! ar! man2 s!i4i

roisions whih ro! this stat!m!nt. 0inist!r is authorit2 onstitut! 2

Constitution, !aus!)

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a% Ar!icl" 3 sa2s th!r! shall ! a Counil o4 0inist!rs to ai an

ais! Pr!si!nt

% Ar!icl" 3'  sa2s that 0inist!rs shall ! aoint! 2 th!

Pr!si!nt on th! ai! o4 Prim! 0inist!r. FR!4!r 9!tion *(h%(a% o4 R&' AtG

% Artil! 3'($) sa2s that th! 0inist!r shall hol th! o44i! uring

th! l!asur! o4 th! Pr!si!nt. &his signi4i!s th! !rasi!

ontrol o4 go!rnm!nt o!r th!ir 4untioning, whih is

r!r!>uisit! to !lar! an authorit2 as @uli authorit2 as

orain! 2 /onl! 9ur!m! Court in Thalla0ala

Coo0"ra!i4" 5an6 cas" in *#13.

% 0inist!rs salari!s ar! !t!rmin! 2 law ma! 2 Parliam!nt

4rom tim! to tim! 2 law- !h" Salary/ Allo7anc"s and

P"nsion of M"b"rs of Parlia"n! Ac!/ &8'. &his is

anoth!r harat!risti that mak!s 0inist!r a uli authorit2.

FR!4!r 9 *(h%(% o4 R&' At, *##5G

!% 9imilarl2, r!garing th! Counil o4 0inist!rs in 9tat!s, th!

Ar!icl"s  &9 and &9  roi! 4or th! aointm!nt an

salari!s o4 th! 0inist!rs. ;ah m!m!r o4 Counil o4 0inist!rs

oth at 9tat! l!!l an Hnion is roi! with th! o44i!,

su44ii!nt sta44 an oth!r r!sour!s an in4rastrutur!. 9om!

s!nior sal! iil s!rants also s!r! th!m. ;ntir! !?!nitur!

o4 roision an maint!nan! o4 th! o44i! along with salari!s

to th! sta44 m!m!rs is orn! 2 th! Do!rnm!nt an ai

4rom th! ta?-a2!rs mon!2. &hus stat! 0inist!r is @uli

authorit2 as !r 9!tion (h%(a% o4 R&' At, *##5.

4% Without !ing an 0P or 06A, on! annot hol o44i! o4 th!

0inist!r in th! Counil o4 0inist!rs. &h! R"0r"s"n!a!ion of 

P"o0l" Ac!/ &8'% whih is !nat! to roi! th! alloation o4 

s!ats in, an th! !limitation o4 onstitu!ni!s 4or th! uros!

o4 !l!tion to, th! /ous! o4 th! P!ol! an th! 6!gislatur!s o4 

9tat!s, th! >uali4iations o4 ot!rs at suh !l!tions, th!

r!aration o4 !l!toral rolls, th! mann!r o4 4illing s!ats in th!

Counil o4 9tat!s to ! 4ill! 2 r!r!s!ntati!s o4 Hnion

t!rritori!s. &hus this law ma! 2 Parliam!nt !?lain! how

th! o44i! o4 0P or 06A has !!n institut! to !om! 0inist!r,

whih also a uli authorit2. R"0r"s"n!a!ion of P"o0l" Ac!/

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&8'& whih was ma! to roi! 4or th! onut o4 !l!tions

o4 th! /ous!s o4 Parliam!nt an to th! /ous! or /ous!s o4 th!

6!gislatur! o4 !ah 9tat!, th! >uali4iations an

is>uali4iations 4or m!m!rshi o4 thos! /ous!s, th! orrut

rati!s an oth!r o44!n!s at or in onn!tion with suh!l!tions. &hus th! 0inist!r is onstitut! as uli authorit2

2 @law ma! 2 Parliam!nt as !r 9!tion *(h%(% o4 R&' At.

g% &h! 0!m!r o4 Parliam!nt or 6!gislatur! is !lar! as a

uli s!rant in PV Narasimha Rao v State, 2 th!

9ur!m! Court o4 'nia in 1++I. &h! 0inist!rs ha!  public 

duties  to !r4orm an th!2 too ha! !rtain riil!g!s

r!sri! un!r th! Constitution un!r Artil! 1#5. &h!

Constitution in s!!ral oth!r artil!s r!sri! similar uti!s4or 06As in 9tat! l!gislatur!s. &!nth sh!ul! !?lains th!

is>uali4iation ro!ss 4or l!gislators, whih m!ans th!2 ha!

a ut2 not to !4!t to a art2 i44!r!nt 4rom th! art2 4rom

whih h! was !l!t! as a r!r!s!ntati! o4 !ol! who ot!

4or th!m. &his r!a44irms th! osition that 0Ps an 06As ar!

onstitut! 2 th! Constitution o4 'nia FR!4!r 9! *(h%(a% o4 

R&' At, *##5G

h% &h! Salary/ Allo7anc"s and P"nsion of M"b"rs of Parlia"n! Ac!/ &8' roi!s 4or a2m!nt o4 salari!s an

!nsion throughout th! li4! 4rom th! stat! !?h!>u!r !si!s

s!!ral allowan!s. R!r!s!ntati! o4 P!ol!s At !?lains that

 @m!m!r inlu!s 80inist!r

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th! s!tion I(1% whih sa2s 8th! in4ormation whih annot ! !ni!

to th! Parliam!nt or a 9tat! 6!gislatur! shall not ! !ni! to an2

!rson< mak!s it l!ar wh!r!!r 0inist!r is answ!ral! to

6!gislators, h! an also answ!ral! to th! orinar2 itiE!n.

1#. &h! !?r!ssion 8authorit2< woul also inlu! all !rsons oroi!s that ha! !!n on4!rr! a ow!r to !r4orm th! 4untions

!ntrust! to th!m un!r th! onstitution an m!r!l2 !aus! th!

0inist!rs ar! iniiuals, th! sam! woul not r!n!r th! o44i! o4 th!

Cain!t 0inist!r an2 l!ss authoritati! than oth!r onstitutional

4untionari!s. &h! !?r!ssion 8authorit2< as us! in 9!tion *(h%

annot ! r!a as a t!rm to !?lu! oi!s or !ntiti!s whih ar!,

!ss!ntiall2, !r4orming 4untions in th!ir iniiual aait2. &h!

!?r!ssion 8authorit2< as us! in 9!tion *(h% o4 th! At woul

!nomass an2 o44i! that is on4!rr! with an2 statutor2 oronstitutional ow!r. &h! o44i! o4 th! Cain!t 0inist!r is an o44i!

!stalish! un!r th! Constitution o4 'nia th! inum!nt aoint!

to that o44i! isharg!s 4untions as roi! un!r th!

Constitution. 'nisutal2, th! aoint!! to that o44i! is, 2 irtu!

th! onstitution, !st! with th! authorit2 to isharg! thos!

4untions.

11. &h! roal! laim that Cain!t 0inist!r o!s not ha! th!

n!!ssar2 in4rastrutur! to suort th! aliailit2 o4 th! R&' At inas muh as, th! 0inist!r is a singular !rson o44i! an, th!r!4or!,

woul ha! to at as a CP'= as w!ll as th! A!llat! Authorit2 an

h!n! annot ! h!l as @Puli Authorit2< is not t!nal!. '4 lak o4 

in4rastrutur! is r!sri! as th! rit!ria 4or imosing transar!n2

oligations, th!n non! woul ! olig! to in4orm. &hat was n!!r

th! int!ntion o4 th! R&' At. 't is >uit! r!l!ant to >uot! th!

7ugm!nt o4 "!lhi /igh Court in W.P.(C% 1#1*#13 in th! as! o4 

S.C. A,ra7al *s. Offic" of !h" A!!orn"y 1"n"ral of India, at!

1#.#3.*#15 wh!r! ourt os!r!, 8it has been contended that there"ould be a practical difficulty as the office of the Attorney #eneral is

only a s$eletal office "hich only consists of the appointee and the

appointee’s is personal staff% In my !ie" this cannot be considered 

as a reason for e&cluding the applicability of the Act on a public 

authority%'  Aoringl2, th! Court ir!t! th! o44i! o4 th! AD' to

r!onsi!r th! R&' aliation. &h! Commission onsi!rs it is th!

ut2 o4 oth th! C!ntr! an 9tat!s to roi! r!>uir! suort to

!ah minist!r, to !nsur! transar!n2 in th!ir 4untions.

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1*. 0aharashtra 9tat! Chi!4 'n4ormation Commission!r has

!lar! on *5th 9!t!m!r *#15 that !ah 0inist!r o4 0aharashtra

stat! as uli authorit2 an ir!t! th! Chi!4 9!r!tar2 to aoint

P'=s an Jirst A!llat! Authoriti!s aoringl2. As !r th! m!ia

r!orts th! Chi!4 9!r!tar2 agr!! to iml!m!nt th! sam!. Prior tothis !ision th! R&' r!>u!sts ma! to th! 0inist!rs us! to !

i!rt! to on!rn! 0inistr2 ut was not !ing answ!r! 2 th!

o44i!s o4 th! 0inist!rs. &h! 9C'C o4 0aharashtra 0r. Ratnakar

Daikwa r!ason! th! !laration sa2ing 8Lo44i!s o4 th! minist!rs

ha! !!n s!t u 2 th! Do!rnm!ntLth!s! !r4orm s!!ral uti!s,

r!!iing 4il!s 4rom arious !artm!nts, aliations 4rom !ol!

an omlaints 4rom th! uli, an orr!son with arious

authoriti!so44i!s.. siEal! sta44 is also santion! 2 th!

Do!rnm!nt to th!s! o44i!s, th!2, th!r!4or!, 4all un!r th! uri!wo4 s!tion *(h%(%(i% o4 th! R&' At.<

13. &h! 0inist!rs !at! th! issu!s in th! ain!t m!!tings an

th!ir oll!ti! oinion in th! 4orm o4 ai! to th! Pr!si!nt or

Do!rnor is ruial in go!rnan!. Pr!si!nt or Do!rnor is a

nominal h!a whil! !?!uti! h!a o4 !ah !artm!nt is th!

0inist!r. &h!2 santion 4or s!!ral stat! !!lom!nt atiiti!s an

introu! !ol! w!l4ar! sh!m!s inoling hug! amounts. &h!2 ar!

answ!ral! to th! /ous!s o4 Parliam!nt an 6!gislatur!, !ing th!r!r!s!ntati!s o4 th! !ol!. &h! 0inist!rs ar! r!sonsil!

iniiuall2 to l!a th!ir !artm!ntsministri!s an ar! also

answ!ral! to 6!gislatur!. &h!2 ar! !?!t! to roi! muh

n!!! l!a!rshi to th! !artm!nt taking assistan! 4rom th!

s!nior iil s!rants. &h! Constitution has !ntrust! th! 0inist!rs

with high!r ow!rs an r!sonsiiliti!s o!r an ao! th! 'A9 an

'P9 o44i!rs aoint! through a rigorous !?amination ro!ss, onl2

to 4ailitat! th! oinion o4 th! !ol!, th!ir n!!s an ut2 an to

k!! in min th!ir w!l4ar!. &h!2 ar! all uli uti!s, an 0inist!r isa uli o2. 0inist!r shoul not 4org!t that h!sh! is !l!t! 2

th! !ol! 4or th! !ol! on his r!>u!st as! on his romis!s an

!r4orman!s.

1. &hus th!r! is no r!ason wh2 0inist!rs shoul ! k!t !2on

th! uri!w o4 Right to 'n4ormation, as th!ir answ!railit2 is w!ll

!stalish! 2 th! Constitution an R!r!s!ntation o4 P!ol! At.

M!r2 titl! o4 th! At sugg!sts that th!2 ar! !?!t! to r!r!s!nt th!

!ol! who !l!t! th!m an also !aus! th!2 aminist!r th!m inth!ir aait2 as 0inist!rs o4 a artiular ort4olio o4 th!

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Do!rnm!nt. No hon!st an sin!r! minist!r woul r!4us! to in4orm

th! !ol! who !l!t! himh!r.

15. &hough th! !4inition in 9!tion *(h% roi!s s!!ral

onitions an irumstan!s to !lar! an authorit2 as @uliauthorit2, th! 4irst laus! in that !4inition its!l4 sustantiall2 o!rs

!ah an !!r2 0inist!r o4 oth C!nt!r an 9tat! Do!rnm!nts. &h!

 @0inist!r is an institution within th! sh!m! o4 th! !morati

Constitution. B!ing a 0inist!r its!l4 is uli authorit2 an as

minist!r is assoiat! with an assist! 2 an o44i!, h! annot

!sa! 4rom th! r!sonsiiliti!s un!r Right to 'n4ormation At. &hat

o44i! shoul 4ailitat! a!ss to !ol! to th! in4ormation h!l 2 it.

Whether a citizen has right to an minister has corresponingobligation to provie in!ormation?

1$. 't is orn! 2 !is that ;m!ror 0ar2aa Purushottam 9hri

Ram us! to ha! a !ll in 4ront o4 his ala!, an who!!r rings it

h! oul om! out o4 his r!si!n! to m!!t th! itiE!n an h!ar

him, r!4l!ting gri!an! r!r!ssal m!hanism in Ram Raj2a. &h!

histor2 is r!l!t! with stori!s an 'nian 4orts ha! uilt-in durbar 

halls wh!r! ;m!rors o4 0ughals, Rajuts an oth!rs us! to m!!t

th! !ol! to h!ar th!ir sumissions at a stiulat! hour. &hos! ar!

all itatorial r!gim!s. 'n !morati go!rnan! also !ol! h!ar

an saw that som! o4 Prim! 0inist!rs, Chi!4 0inist!rs an 0inist!rs

h!l  (anata darbars  (uli m!!tings% to r!!i! !ol!s

r!r!s!ntationsomlaints !t in o!n. &o m!!t or not, wh!n an

how to, !t ar! to ! ro!ss! an in4orm! 2 th! on!rn!

0inist!r, as that is totall2 r!rogati! o4 th! 0inist!r. &hus it ma2 not

! manator2 to ha! a 4i?! or r!sri! timing 4or m!!ting th!

g!n!ral uli. 0!!ting 2 aointm!nt is also i44iult to !

r!gulat! or 4i?! with tim! sh!ul!s. B!ing an !l!t! uli

r!r!s!ntati!, th! 0inist!r has a !morati ut2 to m!!t th!

ommon !ol! an thus, itiE!ns ha! a orr!soning right to

m!!t him. /ow!!r this right shoul ! suj!t! to limitations to

!nsur! that it o!s not r!sult in an2 4orm o4 haos l!aing to a

situation wh!r! h! annot !r4orm his l!gal r!sonsiiliti!s as

minst!r or uli r!r!s!ntati! or ring 0inist!r into h2sial

s!urit2 risk.

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1. 9uj!t to aailailit2 an on!ni!n! o4 th! 0inist!r at o44i!

in aital it2 or in Constitu!n2, th! minist!r ow!s a moral an

!morati r!sonsiilit2 to m!!t his ot!rs or !ol! in th!

onstitu!n2. 't will ! in 4itn!ss o4 !morati r!>uir!m!nts that

!!r2 0inist!r mak!s it a r!gular rati! on! or twi! or thri! in aw!!k or month at an2 4r!>u!n2 o4 his hoi!, that h!sh! will !

ma! aailal! 4or m!!ting th! !ol! in a sh!ul! hour 4or a

!tt!r !ol!-ori!nt! !ision making or go!rnan! or h!aring th!

gri!an!s o4 uli. =r, th! 0inist!r an ulish at!s o4 his

m!!ting in oming month or 4ortnight, in a sh!ul! as !r his

hoi!. 't is th! !morati right o4 ot!rs to m!!t him an also its

his ut2 to m!!t ot!rs whih will go a long wa2 in ahi!ing th!

oj!ti!s o4 goo go!rnan! through transar!n2 as !nisag!

2 th! R&' At.

1I. ;?t!ning logiall2, this ut2 inlu!s a g!nuin! r!sonsiilit2

o4 th! o44i! o4 th! 0inist!r 4or 6aw 7usti!0inist!r o4 9tat! (not

th! 0inistr2% to in4orm th! !ol! wh!n th!2 oul m!!t him. &his is

a 4ailit2 that th!2 ar! !?!t! to roi! to th! !ol! who !l!t!

th! 0inist!rs. &h! in4ormation aout suh 4ailit2 shoul ! islos!

oluntaril2 2 th! o44i! o4 0inist!r un!r s!tion (&)(b) within 1*#

a2s 4rom th! at! o4 omm!n!m!nt o4 law. '4 th!r! is no suh

4ailit2 o4 m!!ting, th! 0inist!rs o44i! shoul !lar! that 8th!r! isno suh 4ailit2< in a artiular w!!k4ortnightmonth2!ar, as

r!>uir! un!r 9!tion (1%(%.

1+. 's 0inist!r not olig! to mak! it !as2 4or th! itiE!n to m!!t

through ro!ss o4 otaining an aointm!nt also: Wh2 not th!

ro!ss or m!ans o4 s!!king aointm!nt ! announ! 2 th!

o44i!r o4 th! 0inist!r: Jor this th!2 an us! th! 'n4ormation

Communiation &!hnolog2 an organiEations lik! N'C, !aus! th!

!ol! ha! right to aointm!nt with th! 0inist!r. 9!tion (1%(%(?% sa2s) @the particulars of facilities a!ailable to citizens for 

obtaining information%

*#. 't is iti4ul that a itiE!n has to 4il! a R&' r!>u!st to know th!

timings an ro!ss o4 m!!ting th!ir hos!n minist!r, whih shoul

ha! !!n orinaril2 roi! on th!ir own. 't is i44iult 4or th! P'=

o4 th! 0inistr2 o4 6aw, or "!artm!nt o4 6!gal A44airs to know an

in4orm th! !ol! as to how an wh!n th! Cain!t 0inist!r an

0inist!r o4 9tat! 4or 6aw will m!!t or what ar! th! sh!ul!s orlans or ro!ss!s 4or suh m!!tings. 't is not r!asonal! to ask th!

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P'= o4 0inistr2"!artm!nt o4 6!gal A44airs to gi! that in4ormation.

&h! 0inist!r or his o44i! alon! is th! aroriat! authorit2 to !i!

an in4orm aout th! 4ailit2 o4 m!!ting th! minist!r with !tails lik!

a2s an timings, an also aout th! ro!ss o4 s!!king

aointm!nt.

 8 A popular government without popular information or the

means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a farce, or a

tragedy or perhaps both”.

:  James Madison,  Political theorist, American

Statesman who sere! as the "o#rth Presi!ent o" 

$nite! States %180&'17(

 

*1. &his Am!rian stat!sman !?lain! 4urth!r) 8Knowl!g! will

4or!!r go!rn ignoran!. An a !ol! who m!an to ! th!ir own

go!rnors must arm th!ms!l!s with th! ow!r whih knowl!g!

gi!suot! stat!m!nt highlights th! @right toin4ormation as a m!ans to a>uir! that knowl!g!. "!mora2 is a

oular go!rnm!nt wh!r! th!r! must ! m!ans o4 a>uiring

in4ormation. Right to 'n4ormation At is suh a m!ans roi! 2

Parliam!nt. '4 a !moratiall2 !l!t! 0inist!r o!s not roi!

tim! at l!ast on! in a month to m!!t his own ot!rs an list!ns to

th!ir on!rn, th!r! is no m!aning to r!r!s!ntati! !mora2.

An id"al r"0r"s"n!a!i4" of 0"o0l"

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Mr. N. Yethiraja ao, a Minister in N.!. amarao"s

#abinet during $%&'(&%, used to carry two suitcases

with him. )hen as*ed why two, he opened one

containing nothing but +representations” of village

voters. e never threw them out or left in the guest 

houses, but used to address the o-cers and also

visit public o-ces in Mandal, istrict and /tate

eadquarters to resolve those grievances, besides

giving feedbac* after meeting each of those who

gave representations.

**. &h! amiral! !morati >ualit2 o4 this !ol!sr!r!s!ntati! was that h! m!t !ah !rson twi! on! to r!!i!

his r!r!s!ntation an s!on to gi! r!sult h! s!ur!. 'ts !44!t is

oious, h! was !l!t! s!!n tim!s ontinuousl2, his wi4! an son

also on! !ah, 4rom Ch!nnur Ass!ml2 Constitu!n2 in Warangal

istrit in &!langana. B!ing a!ssil! to !ol! is an !ss!ntial

r!r!s!ntati! harat!r o4 !mora2. Mot!r has a right to m!!t his

r!r!s!ntati!, who has a orr!soning ut2. 'n matur! !mora2

th! !ol! will r!j!t an !4!at a minist!rl!gislator, who o!s not

in4orm th! m!ans to m!!t his !ol!.

*3. No art2 lags !hin in romising th! !ol!ot!rs that th!2

will ! within th! r!ah or th!2 will s!r! !tt!r !t. 't is th!ir moral

ut2 to k!! u th!ir romis!s h! ma! an rograms 4orming art

o4 mani4!sto o4 th! olitial art2. 'n a nation whos! motto is

 @satyame! (ayathe, th! 0inist!rs un!r th! l!a!rshi o4 th! Prim!

0inist!r an r!s!ti! Chi!4 0inist!rs, ha! a moral r!sonsiilit2to r!aliE! th!ir romis!s truth4ull2.

*. 't is !rtin!nt to r!a th! languag! o4 @th! oath o4 o44i! an

a44irmations ma! 2 !ah 0inist!r wh!n th!2 w!r! sworn in 2 th!

Pr!si!nt or Do!rnors)

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LI "ill bear true faith and allegiance to the *onstitution of India as

by la" established% that I "ill faithfully and conscientiously 

discharge duties as a Minister for the +nion,-tate and that I "ill do

right to all manner of people in accordance "ith the *onstitution and 

the la" "ithout fear or fa!our affection or ill."ill . (&h!

Constitution, &hir 9h!ul!, '%.

&h! signi4iant ut2 o4 th! 0inist!r is to ! within th! r!ah o4 

!ol!, answ!ral! to th!m an k!!ing th!m ost! with

in4ormation as romis!.

*5. 'n aition, th! 0inist!r is ask! to tak! oath o4 s!r!2, as

4ollows)

I "ill not directly or indirectly communicate or re!eal to any person

or persons any matter "hich shall be brought under my 

consideration or shall become $no"n to me as a Minister e&cept as

may be re/uired for the due discharge of my duties as such

Minister% (Constitution o4 'nia, &hir 9h!ul!, ''%

*$. &h! National Commission to R!i!w th! Working o4 th!

Constitution (NCRWC% h!a! 2 7usti! 0 N M!nkatahalaiah,

4orm!r Chi!4 7usti! o4 'nia, in *##*, r!4!rring to th! Right to

'n4ormation stat!)

Do!rnm!nt ro!ur!s an r!gulations shrou! in a !il o4 

s!r!2 o not allow th! li!nts to know how th!ir as!s ar! !ing

hanl!. &h!2 sh2 awa2 4rom >u!stioning o44i!rs hanling th!ir

as!s......'n this r!gar, go!rnm!nt must assum! a major

r!sonsiilit2 an moiliE! skills to !nsur! 4low o4 in4ormation to

itiE!ns. &h! traitional insist!n! on s!r!2 shoul ! isar!.

'n 4at, w! shoul ha! an oath o4 transar!n2 in la! o4 an oath

o4 s!r!2.

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*. 9!on Aministrati! R!4orms Commission in its r!ort on

Right to 'n4ormation in August *##$, un!r th! hairmanshi th!

th!n Hnion 0inist!r 0r M!!raa 0oil2, r!omm!n! as 4ollows)

A 0inist!r is a rig! !tw!!n th! !ol! an th! Do!rnm!nt an

ow!s his rimar2 all!gian! to th! !ol! who !l!t him. &h!

!?ist!n! o4 this roision o4 oath o4 s!r!2 an its aministration

along with th! oath o4 o44i! a!ars to ! a l!ga2 o4 th! olonial

!ra wh!r! th! uli was sujugat! to th! go!rnm!nt. /ow!!r,

national s!urit2 an larg!r uli int!r!st onsi!rations o4 th!

ountr2s int!grit2 an so!r!ignt2 ma2 r!>uir! a 0inist!r or a uli

s!rant with su44ii!nt justi4iation not to islos! in4ormation. But a

!r2 uli oath o4 s!r!2 at th! tim! o4 assumtion o4 o44i! isoth unn!!ssar2 an r!ugnant to th! rinil!s o4 !morati

aountailit2, r!r!s!ntati! go!rnm!nt an oular so!r!ignt2.

&h!r!4or!, th! oligation not to islos! o44iial s!r!ts ma2 ! uilt

in through an aroriat! ins!rtion o4 a laus! in th! national

s!urit2 law !aling with o44iial s!r!ts. '4 r!>uir!, suh an

un!rtaking ma2 ! tak!n in writing, thus aoiing uli isla2 o4 

ro!nsit2 to s!r!2. &h! Commission is th!r!4or! o4 th! i!w that

th! =ath o4 9!r!2 ma2 ! is!ns! with an sustitut! 2 a

statutor2 arrang!m!nt an a writt!n un!rtaking. Jurth!r, k!!ing

in i!w th! sirit o4 th! At to romot! transar!n2 an as

r!omm!n! 2 th! NCRWC it woul ! aroriat! i4 0inist!rs on

assumtion o4 o44i! ar! aminist!r! an oath o4 transar!n2

alongwith th! oath o4 o44i!. (at Paragrah) *..3%

&h! 9!on ARC r!omm!n!)

(a% As an a44irmation o4 th! imortan! o4 transar!n2 in uli a44airs,

0inist!rs on assumtion o4 o44i! ma2 tak! an oath o4 transar!n2

alongwith th! oath o4 o44i! an th! r!>uir!m!nt o4 aminist!ring th!

oath o4 s!r!2 shoul ! is!ns! with. Artil!s 5(% an 1$ (3%,

an th! &hir 9h!ul! shoul ! suital2 am!n!. (% 9a4!guar

against islosur! o4 in4ormation against th! national int!r!st ma2 !

roi! through writt!n un!rtaking 2 inororation o4 a laus! in

th! national s!urit2 law !aling with o44iial s!r!ts. (*..%

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*I. 't n!!s no m!ntion that in a w!l4ar! stat!, 0inist!r is a k!2

4untionar2 !ing in harg! o4 a ort4olio, or grou o4 !artm!nts in

a ministr2. 'nst!a o4 l!aing it to th! iniiual isr!tion, th! law

shoul manat! th! transar!n2 inluing th! in4ormation aout

4ailitating th! @m!!ting with !ol!. 'n this in4ormation ag!, th!Right to 'n4ormation At has r!l!gat! th! =44iial 9!r!ts At into

irr!l!an! in man2 as!ts !?!t rot!ting s!urit2 r!lat!

s!r!ts. 't will ! mor! aroriat! to l!g! 4or transar!n2 rath!r

than on4ining to oath o4 s!r!2. &h! Right to 'n4ormation At has

!!n !li!rat! an l!ar! 2 th! Hnion Cain!t an ass! 2

oth th! /ous!s o4 Parliam!nt. 9imilarl2 s!!ral 9tat! Cain!t

0inist!rs isuss! an r!s!nt! to th!ir r!s!ti! 6!gislati!

Ass!mli!s who ass! transar!n2 laws. Wh!n 0inist!rs want!

!!r2 oth!r authorit2 answ!ral!, wh2 shoul th!2 also not !answ!ral! un!r R&' At:

*+. ;!n i4 h! tak!s oath o4 transar!n2, it will not olig! him to

islos! arious kins o4 in4ormation, suh as that r!juiiall2 a44!t

th! so!r!ignt2 an int!grit2 o4 'nia !t as !lin!at! in I(1%(a%,

in4ormation, th! islosur! o4 whih woul aus! a r!ah o4 

riil!g! o4 Parliam!nt or 9tat! 6!gislatur! (% in4ormation r!!i!in on4i!n! 4rom 4or!ign go!rnm!nt (4%, an ain!t a!rs

inluing r!ors o4 !li!rations o4 th! Counil o4 0inist!rs,

9!r!tari!s an oth!r o44i!rs (with a roiso% (i%. 9!tion I(*%

allows th! uli authorit2 to roi! a!ss to a!rs not

withstaning an2thing ontain! in =44iial 9!r!ts At, 1+*3 in

as!s o4 uli int!r!st. 'n aition, 9!tion ** o4 R&' At gi!s

in4ormation law an o!rriing !44!t o!r th! =44iial 9!r!ts At or

an2 oth!r law i4 that ontraits with R&'. /!n! th! 0inist!r has to

tak! an oath o4 transar!n2 in la! o4 osol!t! @oath o4 s!r!2 orat l!ast in aition to it.

3#. Coming to 4ats o4 this R&' aliation, it is not ro!r 4or th!

Puli Authorit2 (0inistr2 o4 6aw an 7usti!% to ir!t th! a!llant

to h!k with th! 0inist!r hims!l4 an tak! th! aointm!nt. 9uh a

task is a m!r! imossiilit2 4or a ommon man, in th! as!n! o4 a

ulish! sh!ul! o4 m!!ting tim! or ro!ss o4 s!uring

aointm!nt through transar!nt m!ans. Diing suh an ai! toaliant is no in4ormation at all, or at l!ast, it is inoml!t!

CIC/SA/A/2015/000435 Page 13

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in4ormation. /ow!!r, th! Commission annot 4in 4ault with th!

CP'= o4 th! 0inistr2, !aus! h! has sin!r!l2 att!mt! to otain

in4ormation 4rom th! on!rn! 0inist!rs =44i!, an ommuniat!

what!!r was r!!i!. &h! r!son!nt authorit2 shoul ha!

trans4!rr! th! r!>u!st o4 th! a!llant to th! 0inist!rs o44i!,whih h! might ha! not on! thinking 0inist!r is not uli

authorit2.

"clara!ion and ir"c!ions

31. 'n th! light o4 ao! anal2sis, th! Commission has no

h!sitation to !lar! !h" Minis!"rs in !h" ;nion 1o4"rn"n! and

all S!a!" 1o4"rn"n!s as

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ir!ts its o44i! to s!n this or!r to !!r2 Chi!4 9!r!tar2 o4 9tat!

an Hnion &!rritor2 wh!r! th! Counil o4 0inist!rs ar! onstitut! 4or

omlian!.

33. With r!4!r!n! to this s!on a!al s!i4iall2, th!

Commission !lar!s that th! offic" of !h" Minis!"r for La7 as

0ublic au!hori!y un!r 9!tion *(h% o4 Right to 'n4ormation At,

an un!r 9!tion 1+(I%(a%(ii% r!>uir! th! Do!rnm!nt o4 'nia to

aoint a C!ntral Puli 'n4ormation =44i!r to answ!r th!

in4ormation r!>u!sts o4 th! itiE!n an ulish th! in4ormation as

!r 9!tion (1%(% inluing 4ailit2 o4 m!!ting !ol!.

3. &h! Commission strongl2 r!omm!ns to iml!m!nt th!

r!omm!nations o4 NCRWC, 9!on ARC an r"0lac" !h"

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Auth!ntiat! tru! o2

(H. C. 7oshi%"!ut2 9!r!tar2

Ar!ss!s o4 th! arti!s)

1 &h! CP'= un!r th! R&' At, Dot o4 'nia"!artm!nt o4 6!gal A44airs, 0inistr2 o4 6aw 7usti!R&' C!ll, 9hastri Bhaan, N!w "!lhi-11###1.

*.9hri /!mant "hag!Jouning Pr!si!nt , 6ok Kar2a an 6ok Kranti"al, 0aharashtra 9tat!, 9hitla "!i Chowk&okhana, Ahm!nagar-1##1

C=PO &=)

1. Cain!t 9!r!tar2 o4 Hnion o4 'nia

CAB'N;& 9;CR;&ARO,Rashtraathi BhaanN!w "!lhi-11###1.

*.  Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 Anhra Pra!sh9!r!tariat Builing

/2!raa-5## ##1

CIC/SA/A/2015/000435 Page 16

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3. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 Arunahal Pra!sh9!r!tariat

'tanagar-+1111

 

. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 Assam

Blok-C 3r

Jloor

9!r!tariat, "isurDuwahati-I1##$

5. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 Bihar

=l 9!r!tariat

Patna-I## #15

$. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 Chhattisgarh" K 9 Bhaan, Room No. *#

0antrala2

Raiur-+* ##1

. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 Doa

9!r!tariatororiam, Doa-#3##1

I. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 Dujarat

Blok No.1, 3r

4loorN!w 9ahiala2a Coml!?

Danhinagar-3I*#1#

+. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 /ar2ana9!r!tariat

Chanigarh-1$# ##1

CIC/SA/A/2015/000435 Page 17

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1#. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 /imahal Pra!sh

9!r!tariat

9himla-11##1

11. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 7ammu Kashmir

Ciil 9!r!tariat9hrinagar-1+###1

1*. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 7harkhan

9!r!tariatRanhi, I3##1

7harkhan

13. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 Karnataka

Mihana 9ouhaBangalor!-5$###1

1. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 K!rala9!r!tariat

&hiruanthauram.

15. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 0aharashtra

Room No.51I, 5th

Jloor

0ain Builing 0antrala2a0umai-###3*

1$. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 0ah2a Pra!sh

Mallah Bhaan

Bhoal-$*##3

1. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 0aniur

CIC/SA/A/2015/000435 Page 18

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Room No.11 9outh Blok9!r!tariat

'mhal-+5##1

1I. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 0!ghala2a0ain 9!r!tariat Builing

9hilong-+3##1

1+. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 0iEoramCiil 9!r!tariat, Blok C

AiEwal-+$##1

*#. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 Nagalan9!r!tariat

Kohima-+##1

*1. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 NC& o4 "!lhiN!w 9!r!tariat Builing

'. P. ;stat!N!w "!lhi-11###*

**. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 =rissaD!n!ral Amn. "!t.

=rrisa 9!r!tariatBhuan!shwar-51##1

*3. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 Ponih!rr2No. 1, B!ah Rao

Ponih!rr2-$#5##1

*. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 Punja

Punja Ciil 9!r!tariat

Chanigarh-1$###1

CIC/SA/A/2015/000435 Page 1&

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*5. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 Rajasthan9!r!tariat

7aiur-3#*##5

*$. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 9ikkim&ashiling 9!r!tariat

Dangtok -31#1

*. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 &amil Nau

9!r!tariatCh!nnai-$####+

*I. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 &!langana

&!langana 9!r!tariat/O";RABA"-5####1 &;6ANDANA 9&A&;

*+. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 &riura

Ciil 9!r!tariat

Agaartala-++##1

3#. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!rnt o4 Httar Pra!sh

6al Bahaur 9hastri Bhaan

HP 9!r!tariat6uknow-**$##1

CIC/SA/A/2015/000435 Page 20

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31. Chi!4 9!r!tar2Do!rnm!nt o4 Httarkhan

Httarakhan 9!r!tariatB 9huhash Roa

"!hraun -*I##1

3*. Chi!4 9!r!tar2

Do!rnm!nt o4 W!st B!ngalWrit!rs Builing

Kolkata -####1

CIC/SA/A/2015/000435 Page 21