CIC: Ranganath report can be made public TIMES NEWS NETWORK http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOINEW/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIBG&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI New Delhi: In a nod towards transparency, the Central Information Commission (CIC) allowed disclosure of files relating to the government’s action on the R a n g a n at h Misra Commission report which seeks to extend Scheduled Caste status to dalit Muslims and Christians. The decision comes in response to an RTI application filed by Franklin Caesar Thomas who sought inspection of “entire files” dealing with action, if any, of the report of National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by Justice Misra with special reference to the extension of SC status to dalit Muslims and dalit Christians. In the initial reply received in 2008, the PMO refused to grant permission to allow inspection of files related to the commission, which was set up in October 2004, saying, “Papers for the Cabinet before the Cabinet decision are exempted from disclosure under the provisions of 8 (1)(i) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.” It, however, agreed to allow inspection just before the matter came for hearing before the CIC. “The file in this matter being with ministry of minority affairs and the PMO having no objection to inspection of the file notings... ministry of minority affairs will now make the relevant file available for inspection,” chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said.
