Info on judges appointment can't be revealed under RTI: Centre

4 Mar 2009, 1730 hrs IST, PTI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4223795,prtpage-1.cms)

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court HAS stayed a Central Information Commission order after the Centre pleaded that documents relating to appointment and transfer of judges could not be revealed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Challenging the order of CIC which had asked the government to disclose documents and file-notings on appointment of Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh, Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra pleaded that such informations are beyond the purview of RTI Act.

"Correspondence exchanged between constitutional authorities is beyond the purview of the Act and the commission erred in law by directing to disclose it," the government said in its petition.

Justice S Ravindra Bhat, after hearing his contention, stayed the CIC order and issued notice to the RTI applicant on whose plea the Commission had passed the direction.

The Commission on January 19 had directed the Centre to disclose all information and file notings on appointment of Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh Jagdish Bhalla, whose promotion file was returned by former President APJ Abdul Kalam.