Yes, RTI applies to Chief Justice of India
NDTV Correspondent, Tuesday January 12, 2010, New Delhi
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/cji_office_to_come_under_rti.php
India's most-senior judge is obliged to share information with the public under
the Right to Information Act (RTI) - that's the verdict of the Delhi High Court.
This means the Chief Justice of India, KG Balakrishnan, will have to disclose
his assets. Last year, after considerable pressure, other Supreme Court judges
agreed to make their assets public by listing them on the court's website.
The Supreme Court has been arguing that the Chief Justice of India is not
covered by RTI. Balakrishnan had argued that this would lead to harassment of
judges.
But the Delhi High Court has upheld its earlier verdict, delivered in September
last year - that the office of Chief Justice is a public office and therefore
covered by RTI.
On Monday, in an exclusive interview to NDTV's A Vaidyanathan, Balakrishnan
said, "The earlier order too said that disclose assets but it should be kept in
confidence.... anyway because of so much discussion, so much media coverage
...many people were thinking that these judges are amassing huge wealth and
hiding it so we decided to disclose our assets...why should we suffer this
false propaganda."
The verdict is expected to help increase transparency and accountability in the
judiciary. Prashant Bhushan, one of the lawyers who has been campaigning for
this verdict, says the verdict will also provide more information on how judges
are appointed and promoted.
