Furnish details of Cabinet decisions under RTI, holds Kerala CIC

In a decision which could have far reaching consequences, the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of the Kerala State Information Commission has ruled that the General Administration Department is obligated under the RTI Act to furnish details pertaining to Cabinet decisions..The order was passed by CIC Vinson M Paul in an appeal filed by a lawyer, DB Binu against the decision of Public Information Officer (PIO) of General Administration Department..Binu had filed an RTI seeking the agenda and minutes of cabinet meetings of the Kerala government for the period extending from January 1, 2016 to March 12, 2016..The PIO had declined to grant the information sought by Binu on the ground that files pertaining to Cabinet decisions are marked to the department which concerns itself with the subject matter in the file. Hence, only the concerned department can give information sought for..It ruled that only the concerned department would know whether the required process concerning a particular subject matter has been completed and a decision has been taken or not. Binu was, therefore, directed to contact the PIOs of concerned departments..The PIO also held that the details pertaining to Cabinet decisions does not fall under the ambit of “information” under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act..The CIC overturned this decision and asked the General Administration Department to provide Binu with the information. It held that as the body tasked with keeping the minutes of Cabinet meetings, the General Administration Department is obligated to provide the details of cabinet decisions. The CIC, further, held that the department if there is a subject matter on which no decision has been taken by the Cabinet, the same can be exempted..Most interestingly, the CIC also suggested that the government should seriously consider computerising the data relating to agenda and minutes of cabinet meetings. It also suggested that the government should consider uploading cabinet decisions on the official government website as soon as the decisions are taken.