Cellular Jail: SC admits petition filed by advocate

New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) The Supreme Court today admitted a petition filed by an advocate seeking directions to the Union Government, that all trusts controlled by public servants must be covered within the purview of Right to Information Act-2005, following denial of information regarding the removal of plaque containing verses of freedom fighter Vir Savarkar from the Cellular Jail in Port Blair.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker, however, granted liberty to the respondent namely Union Govt, Indian Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Foundation to file their response and additional documents if any within four weeks.

Union Panchayti Raj Minister Mani Shanker Aiyar is facing allegations of ordering the removal of the plaque in August 2004, during his tenure as Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister.

During the hearing the Chief Justice observed, ''If the act is held to be not applicable in such cases then nothing survives in the petition, and if it is held to be applicable then it is to be seen wether the information sought for is suppliable in public interesrt.'' According to the petitioner Sanjiv Gajanan Punalekar, Indian Oil Foundation Trust was controlled by the public servants and petroleum minister is ex-offico chairman of the trust and hence such thing cannot take place without his consent.

According to the Mr Punalekar, it is an insult to a great freedom fighter and the petitoner being a citizen of this country is fully entitled to know how and under what circumstances such incident took place. The petitioner has been granted another four weeks time to file his rejoinder.

UNI AKS/SC DKA RP VV1523