CIC registrar delaying hearing on Sonia, alleges RTI activist

New Delhi, April 10: An RTI activist has alleged before the Central Information Commission that its registrar was "deliberately, malafidely and persistently" defying orders of the Delhi High Court to expeditiously decide his complaint against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

R K Jain had filed a complaint in February 2014 in the Central Information Commission saying his RTI application filed with Congress party remains unanswered and hence penal proceedings should be started against Gandhi.

He had alleged that this was violation of a full bench order of the Commission which had declared Congress along with five other national parties-- BJP, CPI, CPI-M, NCP and BSP-- as public authorities making them answerable under the RTI Act.

But not getting any hearing, Jain approached the Delhi High Court which had ordered in August, 2014 that the "complaint filed by the petitioner be considered expeditiously and preferably within a period of six months".

Jain has now approached the Commission with the complaint saying despite orders of the high court, Registrar M K Sharma has not fixed any date by the Commission.

"That when as a registrar, you fail to take steps for compliance of the aforesaid decision of Delhi High Court, the petitioner by letter dated October 31, 2014 also requested you to cause fixing of hearing in the said matter within the time frame laid down by Delhi High Court," he alleged.

Threatening to file a contempt petition, Jain alleged the registrar is "deliberately, malafidely and persistently" defying the orders and directions of the Delhi High Court and causing to fix the said case for hearing, despite issue of four weeks' notice.

"Further, you have taken no steps to see the compliance of your said notice by the respondent with a view to delay the hearing and disposal of the petitioner's complaint despite directions... Delhi High Court for disposal of the petitioner's complaint in question within six months," he alleged.

PTI