The Supreme Court today disposed of an appeal filed by Goa Raj Bhavan relating to applicability of RTI Act to Governor’s office..Interestingly, the case has its genesis in an RTI application filed in 2007 by the current Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was then the Leader of Opposition in the State..Parrikar had sought copies of the Governor’s reports sent to the President under Article 356 of the Constitution. Raj Bhavan had rejected the application on the ground that Governor’s office did not fall under the scope of RTI Act..The matter then went to State Information Commission, which ruled in favour of Parrikar. Appeal to Bombay High Court also went in favour of Parrikar leading to appeal in the Supreme Court..The matter, which has been pending in Supreme Court since 2011, came up before a Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy today when the Bench remarked that the matter which was filed in 2007 has become stale and infructuous..The parties agreed to the same and the Court proceeded to dispose of the case while keeping the question of law open..However, a connected matter on whether the office of Attorney General falls within the scope of RTI Act will be heard by the Court.
The Supreme Court today disposed of an appeal filed by Goa Raj Bhavan relating to applicability of RTI Act to Governor’s office..Interestingly, the case has its genesis in an RTI application filed in 2007 by the current Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was then the Leader of Opposition in the State..Parrikar had sought copies of the Governor’s reports sent to the President under Article 356 of the Constitution. Raj Bhavan had rejected the application on the ground that Governor’s office did not fall under the scope of RTI Act..The matter then went to State Information Commission, which ruled in favour of Parrikar. Appeal to Bombay High Court also went in favour of Parrikar leading to appeal in the Supreme Court..The matter, which has been pending in Supreme Court since 2011, came up before a Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy today when the Bench remarked that the matter which was filed in 2007 has become stale and infructuous..The parties agreed to the same and the Court proceeded to dispose of the case while keeping the question of law open..However, a connected matter on whether the office of Attorney General falls within the scope of RTI Act will be heard by the Court.
