Movable asset details of Info Commissioners not maintained by

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Feb 18 2015 | 5:20 PM IST
The Central Information Commission may have ordered Supreme Court judges to declare their assets but it does not maintain details of "movable assets" of its own Information Commissioners.
In a recent Right to Information application filed by Bengaluru-based activist Arun Agrawal seeking to know movable assets of the Information Commissioners, who adjudicate on release of information, the Commission said, "No such information is maintained by it."
The stand taken by the CIC is in contravention to the recently enacted Lok Pal Act which makes it mandatory to declare movable and immovable assets of every official working in the government.
The website of the Central Information Commission has a column under which assets of all the seven Information Commissioners have been given summarily mentioning only properties owned by them and do not mention cash and other movable assets held by them.
Declaration of assets including cash is mandatory for MPs, candidates contesting elections and public servants including Supreme Court judges.
After the orders of the Central Information Commission, the Supreme Court judges have started declaring both their movable and immovable assets which are updated every year and posted on the website of the apex court. The order was upheld by Delhi High Court.
Justice Ravinder Bhat of Delhi High Court while upholding the order of the CIC had said, "... Norms of judicial ethics are placed in a continuum, evolving with contemporary challenges. Therefore, the introduction of the stipulation of declaring personal assets, is to be seen as an essential ingredient of contemporary acceptable behaviour and establishing a convention".
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 18 2015 | 5:20 PM IST

Next Story