CIC offers apology on Priyanka’s contempt petition

The Hindu: Shimla: Saturday, 28 November 2015.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday closed the contempt proceedings against the state Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioner on a petition filed by Priyanka Gandhi following an unconditional apology tendered by them.

The Division Bench, comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice P.S. Rana passed the orders on the writ petition filed by Priyanka Gandhi relating to their order on summoning records of land purchased by her at Chharabra, 14km from Shimla.

Issuing the contempt notice on the petition of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on September 11 last, the Division Bench had also directed both the respondents Bhim Sen, the state Chief Election Commissioner and Information Commissioner Kali Dass Batish to appear in person.

Ms Vadra had alleged that despite the stay order passed by the High Court in her writ petition, the Information Commission proceeded with the matter and had summoned the records relating to the land purchased by her.

The Information Commission had on July 23 rapped government officials, including Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Malhotra, and summoned them for not providing the desired information.

On the other hand, the respondent state had filed a reply to the writ petition of Pryinka Gandhi which was taken on record by the court.

RTI Applicant Dev Ashish Bhattacharaya, who is also one of the respondents, had filed an application seeking permission to bring some additional documents on record.

The Court directed the respondents to file reply to the said application, if any, within three weeks. - PTI