Law students move Delhi HC seeking harmonization of HC’s RTI Rules with RTI Act

Four law students have approached the Delhi High Court in order to bring about compatibility between the Delhi High Court RTI Rules and the Rules of the Right to Information Act, 2005..The plea that was admitted by the Division Bench of Chief Justice G Rohini & Jayant Nath, highlighted three primary aspects on where discrepancies arose between the HC’s RTI Rules and the parent Act itself. These three aspects are:-.a) Rule 3 that talks about a separate application being made in case of unrelated information, is inconsistent with the objective and provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005..b) Rule 10 which prescribes Rupees Fifty for the application fee and Rupees Five for the Photostat/Xerox copies per page is arbitrary, unreasonable and exorbitant for the general public at large, especially when proviso to Section-7(5) of the Act mandates that such fees shall be reasonable..c) There is no express provision under the HC’s RTI Rules for making information accessible to citizens falling under Below Poverty Line Category for free of cost..After highlighting the aforesaid differences, the petition states that a representation in this regard was made to the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court but no reply had been received by the Petitioners till now. However the same Bench comprising of the Chief Justice chose to admit the matter when it came up for hearing yesterday..Stating that ‘this was an issue that needed to be dealt with’, the Bench issued notice to the High Court Registry and sought its reply. The matter will now be heard on January 20..The petition has also prayed for the quashing of Rule 3 of the Delhi High Court RTI Rules which is inconsistent with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.