New Delhi, March 27 The Central Information Commission has criticized the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for its "unethical practices" and "avoiding" approach in handling Right to Information (RTI) applications, highlighting a broader pattern in cases involving information related to contracts.
In a recent order, Information Commissioner Vinod Kumar Tiwari said the response provided by the respondent was "avoiding and not in compliance" with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.
The commission noted that instead of providing specific information, the officials merely advised the appellant to visit the office for inspection without effectively facilitating access to records.
Highlighting non-compliance with appellate directions, the order stated that the respondent failed to ensure inspection despite clear instructions from the First Appellate Authority, adding that such conduct reflects a lack of due diligence and amounts to obstruction in the flow of information.
Pointing to a recurring pattern, the CIC said officials in contract-related RTI cases tend to adopt an "avoiding approach", often resorting to what it termed the "most common trickery".
"The most common trick is to call the appellant to the office and then not cooperate or offer any record for inspection. Officers keep avoiding the RTI application and/or do not make the documents available to such applicants on one pretext or another," it said.
The case relates to an RTI application seeking details of tenders and development work in the Civil Lines zone. The applicant alleged denial of access to records despite multiple visits.
Taking note of the lapses, the commission issued a show-cause notice to the then PIO and the present PIO, asking them to explain why action under the RTI Act should not be initiated against them for denial of information and failure to comply with appellate directions.