CJI's office falls under RTI law: Delhi High Court
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, January 12, 2010
Delhi High Court
In a landmark judgment Delhi High Court on Tuesday held that the office of the Chief Justice of India falls under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) act.
In this historic judgment Delhi High Court observed that judicial independence is not judiciary's privilege but it's a great responsibility cast upon it.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice AP Shah, Justice S Murlidhar and Justice Vikramjeet Sen dismissed a plea filed by the Supreme Court which contended that bringing the office of Chief Justice of India within the RTI act could hamper judicial independence.
The High Court said, "CJI cannot be said to have fiduciary relationship with other judges."
CJI KG Balakrishnan
Since the matter involved CJI's office hence Supreme Court referred the case to Delhi High Court instead of hearing the case itself.
The judgment is being seen as a personal setback to Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan who was of the view that CJI's office doesn't fall under the RTI law.
Delhi High court went a step further after passing this order and said that the High Court's judges would make their assets public within a week.
