Associations like citizens can seek information under RTI:CIC

New Delhi, Sept 22 (UNI) The Central Information Commission has ruled that a society or association has as much right to seek information under RTI as any individual citizen.

While hearing an appeal from Mr OP Jindal against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD), the Commission rejected the contention of the urban body that it would not supply information to a welfare association as the Right to Information Act was available only to citizens.

The Commission referring to its ruling in the Mr J C Talukdar vs CE(E), CPWD case said even if it were conceded that a company or a corporate body was a legal entity distinct from its share holders and it was not in itself a citizen, it was a fact that all superior Courts had been admitting applications in exercise of their extraordinary jurisdiction from Companies, Societies and Associations under Article 19 of the Constitution of which the RTI Act, 2005 is child.

It said very few petitions had been rejected on the ground that the applicants/ petitioners were corporate bodies or companies or associations and, as such, not "citizens".

''This Commission also has been receiving sizeable number of such applications from such entities. If the Courts could give relief to such entities, the PIOs also should not throw them out on a mere technical ground that the applicant /appellant happens to be a legal person and not a citizen,'' it said in its order dated September 17.

Mr Jindal reprsenting a resident welfare association had sought information regarding sanction to building plans of Street No 13, Majlis Park, Delhi 33. Their concern was to remove encroachment from a road in the area. The aplication was submitted to the MCD about a year ago.

UNI