http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/CIC_asks_HC_for_info_on_judicial_exam_candidates/articleshow/3689811.cms
CIC asks HC for info on judicial exam candidates NEW DELHI: In a ruling which may set a precedent for examinations conducted by Delhi High Court, the Central Information Commission has allowed an RTI plea of a candidate seeking personal information of successful candidates. Chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah on Friday asked HC to furnish information sought by an RTI applicant, Rashmi Bansal where she demanded to know not just marks and names of those who cleared Delhi Higher Judicial Service Examination (DHJS) 2006, but also "the addresses of those selected for interview'' and "names/designations of their parents/guardians.'' When Bansal first approached HC last year and asked for details of DHJS, her RTI plea was declined by then PIO A K Mahajan under Delhi High Court RTI rules. Mahajan rejected the plea invoking confidentiality clause. However, in her first appeal within HC, the appellate authority allowed revelation of number of total candidates who were successful. This prompted Bansal to move CIC in final appeal and re-iterate her request for complete information. Before CIC, high court officials contended they had furnished whatever information was asked for by the RTI applicant, pointing out that subsequently results of the exam were declared and uploaded on its website as also on HC notice board. It was also brought to the attention of CIC that since 2007, candidates who have appeared are routinely provided with marks they have obtained in preliminary, written and interview stages of the DHJS examinations to bring in greater transparency. Earlier, it wasn't possible for a candidate to know his marks as results typically declared a candidate pass or fail. It changed after another CIC ruling on declaration of marks spurred the Chief Justice to create a three judges committee which, after deliberations, concluded that there was no confidentiality clause in revealing marks obtained by a candidate. But CIC was clear that all the information that has been sought including names and addresses of candidates should be provided to Bansal under the RTI Act. It also advised HC to initiate disciplinary action against its PIO including "penal action'' if he failed to comply with orders to furnish information, as was alleged by Bansal here.
