Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath have agreed to hear an appeal preferred by the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund..The Fund has challenged a Single Bench order directing the Fund to disclose information on the names and particulars of the donors who contributed to the Fund from 2009 to 2011..Aseem Takyar had sought this information, only to be denied details regarding donors and beneficiaries of the fund stating that the same was exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act..The First Appellate Authority endorsed the decision of the CPIO, which brought the matter to the Chief Information Commission. The CIC had directed the Prime Minister’s Office to disclose the names of donors..In November last year, Justice RS Endlaw reiterated that the CIC had only directed disclosure of the names of the institutions and not individual donors or recipients. He also added that the reasoning of the Commission was correct because when a donor is availing income tax exemption for such donation, there should be no element of secrecy/confidentiality attached to it..Justice Endlaw had further stated that the Relief Fund was not an NGO, before proceeding to dismiss the petition filed by the PMNRF..Yesterday, when the case came up for hearing the Division Bench issued notice to the Respondent and sought a reply over the issue..The case is now posted for hearing in May.
Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath have agreed to hear an appeal preferred by the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund..The Fund has challenged a Single Bench order directing the Fund to disclose information on the names and particulars of the donors who contributed to the Fund from 2009 to 2011..Aseem Takyar had sought this information, only to be denied details regarding donors and beneficiaries of the fund stating that the same was exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act..The First Appellate Authority endorsed the decision of the CPIO, which brought the matter to the Chief Information Commission. The CIC had directed the Prime Minister’s Office to disclose the names of donors..In November last year, Justice RS Endlaw reiterated that the CIC had only directed disclosure of the names of the institutions and not individual donors or recipients. He also added that the reasoning of the Commission was correct because when a donor is availing income tax exemption for such donation, there should be no element of secrecy/confidentiality attached to it..Justice Endlaw had further stated that the Relief Fund was not an NGO, before proceeding to dismiss the petition filed by the PMNRF..Yesterday, when the case came up for hearing the Division Bench issued notice to the Respondent and sought a reply over the issue..The case is now posted for hearing in May.
