CIC warns IIM-A against withholding information

The CIC today warned the premier management institute IIM-Ahmedabad of action under the RTI Act against its officials if any information is withheld from applicants without giving suitable reasons.

"The commission warned the Public Information Officer (PIO) that unless grounds for denial were based on Section 8(1) and proper reasons were given, no information should be withheld. Else it would invite penal provisions of Section 20 of the RTI Act," Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi mentioned in his order. The Section 8(1) of the RTI lists various exemption clauses under which information can be withheld while Section 20 relates to the provisions of penalty if PIO is found guilty of not giving information to any RTI applicant.

Gandhi was hearing the plea of an IIM-A professor, T T Ram Mohan, who had sought the list of faculty members who availed "sabbatical leave" or "leave without pay" during last 10 years. The PIO gave him some information but withheld the names of the faculty members who availed the leave, claiming the "third party" clause of the Act under which clearance from the person, whose "private" information is sought, is required before disclosure.