RTI से खुली BMC की पोल, भ्रष्टाचार के आरोपी 207 अफसरों में से सिर्फ 27 पर गिरी गाज

Aaj Tak: Mumbai: Tuesday, 4^th August 2026.
RTI से सामने आया है कि BMC के 207 अधिकारी ACB के भ्रष्टाचार मामलों में शामिल हैं. इनमें 112 अभी भी नौकरी में हैं, जबकि 68 मामले खत्म होने से पहले रिटायर हो चुके हैं और केवल 27 को निलंबित किया गया है. कुछ मामले 2005 से लंबित हैं.

RTI के मुताबिक, BMC के 207 अधिकारी ACB के भ्रष्टाचार मामलों में शामिल हैं. इनमें 112 अभी भी नौकरी में हैं. (File Photo)

मुंबई महानगरपालिका (BMC) के अधिकारियों से जुड़े भ्रष्टाचार के मामलों को लेकर एक RTI से चौंकाने वाली जानकारी सामने आई है. अधिकार कार्यकर्ता जीतेंद्र घाडगे को मिले RTI जवाब के मुताबिक, BMC के 207 अधिकारी एंटी करप्शन ब्यूरो (ACB) के मामलों में शामिल हैं. इनमें से 112 अधिकारी अभी भी नौकरी में हैं, जबकि 68 अधिकारी अपने मामलों का अंतिम फैसला आने से पहले ही रिटायर हो चुके हैं.
30 अप्रैल 2026 तक के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक, ACB के मामले दर्ज होने के बावजूद 207 में से केवल 27 अधिकारियों को निलंबित किया गया है. यानी भ्रष्टाचार के मामलों का सामना कर रहे करीब 87 फीसदी अधिकारी या तो अभी भी सेवा में हैं या रिटायर हो चुके हैं.
RTI से यह भी सामने आया कि भ्रष्टाचार के कई मामले लंबे समय से लंबित हैं. सबसे पुराने लंबित ACB मामले 2005 के हैं. यानी कुछ मामले 21 साल से ज्यादा समय से अंतिम नतीजे तक नहीं पहुंच पाए हैं.
इंजीनियरों से जुड़े सबसे ज्यादा मामले
RTI के मुताबिक, BMC के इंजीनियरिंग विभाग से जुड़े कर्मचारियों की संख्या भ्रष्टाचार के मामलों में सबसे ज्यादा है. ACB मामलों में 33 सब इंजीनियर, 13 असिस्टेंट इंजीनियर और 13 जूनियर इंजीनियर शामिल हैं. इनके अलावा कई एग्जीक्यूटिव इंजीनियर और वरिष्ठ इंजीनियरिंग अधिकारी भी मामलों में शामिल हैं. BMC के इंजीनियरिंग विभाग सड़कों, नालियों, इमारतों और इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर से जुड़े हजारों करोड़ रुपये के सरकारी कॉन्ट्रैक्ट संभालते हैं.
RTI के आंकड़े बताते हैं कि भ्रष्टाचार के आरोप सिर्फ वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों तक सीमित नहीं हैं. क्लास-IV कर्मचारियों में 48 सफाई कर्मचारी, 24 मजदूर, 6 मुकादम और 6 चपरासी समेत कई अन्य फील्ड कर्मचारी भी ACB की कार्रवाई का सामना कर रहे हैं.
मुकदमा चलाने की मंजूरी के प्रस्ताव भी लंबित
RTI में सामने आया कि ट्रैप और रिश्वत के मामलों में मुकदमा चलाने की मंजूरी से जुड़े पांच प्रस्ताव लंबित हैं. इसके अलावा आय से अधिक संपत्ति से जुड़ा एक प्रस्ताव भी कार्रवाई का इंतजार कर रहा है. इनमें से कुछ प्रस्ताव 2024 से लंबित हैं और उनका स्टेटस अभी भी 'In Progress' है. सक्षम अधिकारी से मुकदमा चलाने की मंजूरी के बिना आपराधिक कार्रवाई प्रभावी तरीके से आगे नहीं बढ़ सकती.
कोविड के दौरान 43 निलंबित कर्मचारी हुए थे बहाल
RTI जवाब के मुताबिक, कोविड-19 महामारी के दौरान पहले निलंबित किए गए 43 नगर निगम कर्मचारियों को दोबारा ड्यूटी पर बहाल किया गया था. क्वारंटीन और इमरजेंसी से जुड़े कामों के लिए कर्मचारियों की जरूरत को इसकी वजह बताया गया. हालांकि, BMC ने इन कर्मचारियों के नाम बताने से इनकार कर दिया. इसके लिए RTI एक्ट के प्रावधानों और लंबित आपराधिक या विभागीय कार्रवाई का हवाला दिया गया.
भ्रष्टाचार के मामले रिटायरमेंट स्कीम नहीं बन सकते
द यंग व्हिसलब्लोअर्स फाउंडेशन के कार्यकर्ता जीतेंद्र घाडगे ने कहा कि केवल 27 अधिकारियों का निलंबित होना, 112 का नौकरी में बने रहना और 68 का मामले खत्म होने से पहले रिटायर हो जाना गलत संदेश देता है. उन्होंने कहा कि जांच में देरी भ्रष्टाचार विरोधी कानूनों के उद्देश्य को कमजोर करती है. भ्रष्टाचार के मामले ऐसी 'रिटायरमेंट स्कीम' नहीं बन सकते, जिसमें अधिकारी केवल समय बीतने का इंतजार करें. उन्होंने सभी लंबित ACB मामलों की तय समय सीमा में निगरानी, मुकदमा चलाने की मंजूरी पर जल्द फैसला और कार्रवाई में पूरी पारदर्शिता की मांग की.

‘Weakened Act, Delayed Hearings’: Seven Years Post-Article 370 Abrogation, Activist Reflects On RTI Challenges - By Mir Farhat Maqbool

ETV Bharat: Srinagar: Tuesday, 4^th August 2026.
Repealing J&K's 2009 RTI Act weakened transparency and accountability, causing delays in appeals, with activists urging a local Central Information Commission bench for faster redressal.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launching the RTI portal on Janaury 10, 2025. (File/ETV Bharat)

Among the many laws repealed after the abrogation of Article 370 and the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir into a union territory was the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2009, enacted after years of struggle by civil society groups.
The central government replaced it with the RTI Act of 2005. However, RTI activists and applicants argue that seeking information under the central act has allegedly weakened government accountability and caused “delays in appeal hearings” at the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi.
Under the 2009 Act, Jammu and Kashmir had its own State Information Commission (SIC) that would hear second appeals and petitions about denial or delayed reply to RTIs within a time limit of 60 to 120 days for, but the central act has no deadline for disposing of applications and appeals.
Jammu-based RT activist, Raman Sharma said that repealing the Jammu and Kashmir’s RTI Act weakened the process of seeking information and accountability of the government officials. He said that while Public Information Officers (PIOs) delay replies to RTIs, the hearing of second appeals in the CIC takes months or years for disposal.
“The officers would appear physically before the State Information Commission under the JK RTI Act. Now, hearings take place through video conferences, which allow less space and time for counter arguments,” he said.
Under the RTI Act, an applicant can file a first appeal under Section 19(1) before the public information officers, but if the reply is not relevant or complete, the applicant files a second appeal before the CIC. “The CIC has to hear country-wide appeals. Our appeals from Jammu and Kashmir too take one year to two years to be heard. Till then the information sought becomes irrelevant, and also the applicants lose interest,” he said.
The weakening of RTI was even acknowledged by India's first Chief Information Commissioner, Wajahat Habibullah, last year who said that the central Right to Information Act, 2005 is somewhat weaker than the now-abolished J&K RTI Act, 2009. Habibullah was among the few former bureaucrats who played a key role in enactment and implementation of the RTI Act 2009 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Even though the elected government led by the chief minister launched an online RTI portal on January 10, 2025, applicant Gulzar Ahmad said yet it has not helped in timely response to the applications.
Ahmad, a resident of Budgam, said that the process of seeking information from authorities has become cumbersome. “First, officials do not give the information which is sought in an application. When we file the first appeal, it is heard by the PIO, but when the second appeal is filed before CIC to seek correct and relevant information hearings are held after years. This is weakening the relevance of the RTI in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Chairperson of the J&K RTI Movement, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, said that union territories do not have the power to establish and constitute Information Commissions per the Sections 12-17 of the Central RTI Act.
“For setting up its own commission, Jammu and Kashmir first needs restoration of statehood, then the state can have its own commission. Till Jammu and Kashmir is a UT, the central government can open a branch of the commission in Jammu and Kashmir for speedy redressal of the appeals,” he said.
Seconding him, Sharma said that if the central government wants to strengthen the governance and increase transparency in governance, it must open a CIC bench in Jammu and Kashmir on the analogy of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

SC judge flags lack of transparency in judicial appointments, says leads to calling people 'ants'

The Federal: New Delhi: Monday, 3^rd August 2026.

Who watches the watchmen? Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stressed that people have a fundamental right to know who their judges will be, the discussion surrounding their appointments, and the kind of judgments they have previously delivered. File photo

Calling for public scrutiny of Collegium decisions, judge warns secrecy lets people who make "unconstitutional" remarks slip into judiciary; raises accountability issue
Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan came down heavily on the lack of transparency in judicial appointments, which, he said, then allow people to enter the judiciary who later describe a group of people as “ants” and “get away with it”.
The judge called such remarks “completely unconstitutional”.
On Saturday (August 1) at an event, Justice Bhuyan made a plea for greater public scrutiny of those being considered for judgeship. “To prevent entry of such people, there should be discussion, there should be some reasons given. What harm is caused if there is some discussion in the public about that these are the people who will be judges in our country?” he asked.
Need for greater transparency
Speaking at an event organised by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy for the release of a report titled "The Judicial Transparency Index", Justice Ujjal Bhuyan strongly advocated for greater transparency and public disclosure regarding the reasons behind judicial appointments and transfers made by the Collegium.
He strongly argued that the Collegium must explain the reasoning behind its judicial recommendations, questioning why these crucial appointments should be hidden from informed public debate. He emphasised that transparency is vital for preserving constitutional values and honouring merit within the judiciary.
Justice Bhuyan noted that a lack of transparency in judicial selections could lead to individuals entering the judiciary who might later make highly controversial, inappropriate, or dehumanising remarks, such as referring to a group of people as "ants", and "get away with it." He condemned such statements as being "completely unconstitutional."
Further, he pointed out that while courts have successfully embraced transparency in their adjudicatory functions (like livestreaming court proceedings), they remain deeply cautious and opaque about their institutional and constitutive processes. He argued that citizens have a fundamental right to know who their judges will be, the discussion surrounding their appointments, and the kind of judgments they have previously delivered.
Accountability missing
Justice Bhuyan also raised the broader question of accountability within the judiciary.
"Every legal system that claims to administer justice rather than merely dispense power must answer an old and uncomfortable question: who watches the watchmen?" he said.
Justice Bhuyan specifically questioned the lack of explanations in three Supreme Court Collegium resolutions from 2025, contrasting them with older resolutions that provided detailed reasonings.
He concluded by quoting a past Constitution Bench judgment under the RTI Act, reiterating that "judicial independence cannot be used as a byword for avoiding accountability."
To prevent the elevation of individuals whose ideologies conflict with the Constitution, Justice Bhuyan insisted that open discussion is necessary. He urged that the institutional processes be backed by clear explanations, asking, "What harm is caused if there is informed public debate on such decisions?"
SC's collegium system
The Supreme Court Collegium system remains one of the most intensely debated aspects of India's judiciary, acting as a frequent point of friction between the judicial and executive branches of government.
Under this mechanism, a forum composed of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court recommends the appointment, elevation, and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary. While the executive government can ask the Collegium to reconsider a recommendation, its ultimate role in the final selection process is strictly limited.
For a long time, critics have long argued that the Collegium operates with a distinct lack of transparency. There is minimal public information regarding why specific candidates are selected, rejected, or deferred. Furthermore, critics frequently point out the absence of clearly codified, publicly accessible criteria to govern these high-level appointments.
Conversely, the judiciary steadfastly defends the system as an essential safeguard for judicial independence. Proponents argue it is necessary to insulate the appointment process from political influence and executive interference.
Reform efforts
This structural divide has led to repeated standoffs like in the case of the NJAC conflict.
In a major bid for reform, Parliament attempted to replace the Collegium with the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC). However, the Supreme Court struck down the law in 2015, ruling that it unconstitutionally compromised the independence of the judiciary.
DY Chandrachud defends system
Recognising the criticism, former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud defended the system in 2024, noting that active efforts were being made to improve internal transparency. He told PTI that while the system is easy to criticise, the Collegium works diligently to ensure rigorous, structured consultation before any judicial appointment is finalised.

RTI data reveals Nagaland’s widening divide between policy and practice : Atono Tsükrü Kense

Morung Express: Kohima: Monday, 3^rd August 2026.

As the Nagaland Government initiates a high-level manpower audit to streamline staffing across all departments, a recent Right to Information (RTI) response has laid bare the persistent administrative challenges that underscore the urgency of this exercise. 
While the state has constituted a ‘Working Group on Comprehensive Manpower Rationalisation’ with a strict three-month deadline to review sanctioned posts, identify redundancies and assess the impact of technology on staffing, the RTI data reveals a system straining under unresolved cadre reviews, widespread reliance on additional charges, and uneven distribution of officers, particularly within the civil and police services. 
The findings come as the government imposes interim restrictions on new recruitments, highlighting a critical push to balance administrative efficiency with fiscal consolidation against a backdrop of delayed cadre revisions and the creation of multiple new districts in recent years.
40 NCS officers hold additional charge
The Nagaland government continues to depend on significant number of officers to manage multiple administrative responsibilities as the cadre review process constituted in 2021 is still underway.
An RTI response from the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) has revealed that 40 Nagaland Civil Service (NCS) officers are currently holding ‘additional charge’ while the cadre review is yet to be completed despite creation of several new districts in the recent years.
The reply, issued on July 15 in response to an RTI application, provides an overview of the present strength of the NCS cadre, staffing position across districts, vacancies and the status of cadre review.
According to the department, Nagaland currently has a sanctioned strength of 308 NCS posts, of which 296 are filled, leaving 12 vacancies, including posts that have already been requisitioned.
The department, however, stated that it has no records available on the sanctioned strength of the NCS at the time of Nagaland’s statehood in 1963.
It also pointed out that no cadre strength revision was carried out in line with the creation of new districts in 1973, 1997, 2003, 2022 and 2024.
District-wise deployment
The RTI reply shows considerable variation in the distribution of NCS officers across districts.
Among the districts, Mon has the highest number of NCS officers with 19, followed by Zunheboto (18), Phek (16), and Kohima and Mokokchung with 14 each. Wokha has 13 officers, while Kiphire and Peren have 11 each. Chümoukedima and Tuensang have 10 officers each, Longleng has nine, Niuland and Shamator have eight each, Noklak has seven, Dimapur has six, and Meluri and Tseminyu have five officers each.
Additional charge & transfers
The department disclosed that 40 NCS officers are presently holding additional charge of more than one sub-division or posting simultaneously.
It further clarified that there is no prescribed duration for holding additional charge, stating that such arrangements are made based on administrative convenience.
The RTI reply also revealed that 74 officers were transferred and posted through notifications issued on March 31, 2026.
Of these, 15 officers were posted to the six newest districts viz. Noklak, Chümoukedima, Niuland, Tseminyu, Shamator and Meluri. However, only six of those postings were against previously vacant regular positions, indicating that many postings were adjustments rather than appointments to vacant sanctioned posts.
Previous cadre reviews
As per the available records, the government said cadre reviews were undertaken through notifications and official communications issued in 2006, 2010, 2016 and 2018. The latest cadre review, constituted in 2021, has yet to be completed.
The RTI response also noted that the minimum NCS complement for each district is governed by government notifications issued in 2004 and 2022, copies of which were enclosed with the reply.
Overall, the RTI response highlights the continuing gap between sanctioned and actual staffing, the widespread reliance on additional charge arrangements, and the prolonged delay in finalising the cadre review, despite the creation of several new districts over the years.
Posted strength of NPS Cadre 
Meanwhile, the RTI response offers a snapshot of the current deployment of NPS cadre officers across Nagaland and provides insight into how senior police personnel are distributed among operational, administrative and training establishments throughout the State.
The Nagaland Police Headquarters (PHQ), along with its specialised wings, has the highest concentration of Nagaland Police Service (NPS) officers in the State, according to an official document obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The document provides a detailed breakdown of the posted strength of NPS cadre officers across police units, district establishments and Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) battalions.
The posted strength of the NPS cadre stands at 241 officers, comprising 44 officers in the ranks of AIG, Commandant, SP, Principal and Joint Director, and DCP, 59 officers in the Deputy Commandant, Deputy SP, Additional SP and ADCP category, and 138 officers serving as Assistant Commandant, Deputy SP, SDPO and ACP.
Among all establishments, Police Headquarters (PHQ), including Crime, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Border units, has the largest deployment with 16 officers. The Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) follows with 13 officers, while Commissioner of Police, Dimapur has a sanctioned posted strength of 10 officers.
Across district police establishments, Kohima has the highest posted strength with seven officers, followed by Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Wokha, each with five officers. Mon, Peren and Phek have four officers each, while Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng and Tseminyu have three officers each. Noklak and Meluri have two officers each, while Shamator has the lowest deployment with one officer.
The RTI document also highlights the distribution of officers across the Nagaland Armed Police battalions. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 11th and 14th NAP battalions each have 10 posted officers, the highest among the battalions. The remaining battalions have between eight and nine officers.
Other specialised institutions include the Police Training School (PTS) with two officers, the Nagaland Police Training Centre (NAPTC) with four officers, the Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorist School (CIATS) with two officers, and the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Prosecution) with six officers.
The document notes that the figures exclude officers serving on deputation, including the Commandant Rank officer serving as Commanding Officer to the Village Guards, the Superintendent of Police Rank officer posted as Chief Security Officer to the Civil Secretariat, and the Deputy Commandant Rank officer serving as ADC to the Governor.
This is the last of a two-part series.

RTI activist seeks probe into funding of Abhijeet Dipke's US education, cites father's ₹60,000-65,000 monthly salary : Kanishka Singharia

Mint: Surat: Monday, 3^rd August 2026.
A Surat-based RTI activist, Amit Tiwari, has sought an investigation into the finances of Bhagwanrao Dipke, the father of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, questioning how a junior engineer's salary could have paid for his son's higher education in US.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke. (PTI)

A man from Surat in Gujarat has filed a Right to Information (RTI) Act application seeking details about the funding of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke's education. Dipke recently completed his Master's degree at Boston University in the US.
Surat-based RTI activist Amit Tiwari has sought an investigation into the finances of Bhagwanrao Dipke, the CJP founder's father. He questioned how Bhagwanrao, a junior engineer earning a “salary of ₹60,000-65,000 a month”, could afford to send his son abroad for higher education.
"I have complained to the Maharashtra Government that Bhagwanrao Dipke was a Junior Engineer at MIDC. So, if he received a salary of ₹60,000-65,000, how was he able to afford the education of his children in the US?" he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Complaints filed with ECI and CBIC
The activist has also approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) over the legal status of the CJP and the tax liability on a ₹1 crore fund pledged by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal.
Earlier this week, senior advocate Kapil Sibal announced a contribution of ₹1 crore to a fund set up by the CJP to provide legal assistance to protesters arrested by Delhi Police during the recent protests.
Speaking to ANI, Tiwari on Thursday said he had filed complaints at three different authorities.
"I have filed a complaint at three different locations. I have complained against CJP at ECI. Regarding the ₹1 Crore fund by Kapil Sibal, I have complained to CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) that 18% GST be levied on it," Tiwari said.
Tiwari questions CJP's legal status
In his complaint against the CJP, Tiwari alleged that the organisation was collecting donations even though it was not registered as a political party.
"As far as the complaint against CJP is concerned, if they are acting like a political party, if they take in donations but are non-registered, they will have to register under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. We have demanded that action be taken against them as they are non-registered but are accepting a fund of ₹1 crore," he said.
Abhijeet Dipke's education qualification
Abhijeet Dipke, 30, is a political communications strategist and has become the public face of the movement. He studied journalism in Pune before moving to the United States for higher studies. He recently completed a Master's degree in Public Relations from Boston University and has said that he is currently looking for job opportunities.
Between 2020 and 2023, Dipke worked with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), where he handled social media strategy and election campaigns. During the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, he was reportedly involved in meme-based digital campaigns aimed at engaging young voters and communicating political messages.
(With inputs from ANI)

Activist alleges non-disclosure of information by Bandipora hospital under RTI

KNS: Bandipora: Sunday, 2^nd August 2026.

Allegations of non-disclosure and incomplete furnishing of information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act have surfaced against the District Hospital Bandipora, with an RTI activist claiming that repeated applications, appeals and requests for inspection of records failed to secure the information sought.
According to documents shared by social and RTI activist Tawheed Sheikh, a series of RTI proceedings involving the District Hospital Bandipora has highlighted concerns regarding the timely and complete furnishing of information sought under the transparency law.
The proceedings include four RTI applications bearing numbers CMOBP/R/2026/60010 (April 16, 2026), CMOBP/R/2026/60013 (May 15, 2026), CMOBP/R/2026/60015 (June 5, 2026), and CMOBP/R/2026/60019 (June 28, 2026), along with three first appeals filed before the designated appellate authority.
Sheikh alleged that only a portion of the information sought through his initial application was provided after repeated follow-ups.
He said that subsequent RTI applications were intentionally restricted to specific and narrowly defined queries so that no objection could be raised regarding the volume of records or diversion of departmental resources. Despite limiting the scope of the requests, he alleged that complete information was not furnished.
The activist further claimed that his repeated requests for inspection of records, a right available to applicants under the RTI Act, were not effectively facilitated. He maintained that access to records and information sought through the RTI mechanism remained incomplete despite multiple applications, appeals and follow-ups.
The concerns are not confined to the health department. In a separate RTI proceeding concerning the R&B Division Bandipora, Sheikh alleged that certain information was declined on the ground that the records sought were voluminous, while he was referred to the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and e-procurement portals.
According to him, the information available on those platforms did not fully address the particulars sought under the RTI Act.
Apart from remedies available under the RTI framework, the activist said he also submitted grievances and representations before the competent authorities. However, he claimed that the issues remain unresolved.
Similar complaints have been received from other RTI applicants alleging delays and incomplete responses from public authorities, adding to a broader debate on the effectiveness of the RTI mechanism in the district. (KNS).

सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने NSE को RTI Act के दायरे में लाने वाले CIC के आदेश पर रोक लगाई

Live Law: New Delhi: Sunday, 2^nd August 2026.

सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने शुक्रवार को नेशनल स्टॉक एक्सचेंज ऑफ़ इंडिया लिमिटेड (NSE) की अपील पर नोटिस जारी किया। NSE ने दिल्ली हाईकोर्ट के उस फ़ैसले को चुनौती दी, जिसमें उसे सूचना का अधिकार अधिनियम (RTI Act), 2005 की धारा 2(h) के तहत "पब्लिक अथॉरिटी" (सार्वजनिक प्राधिकरण) माना गया।
हाईकोर्ट ने सेंट्रल इन्फॉर्मेशन कमीशन (CIC) के 2007 के उस आदेश को सही ठहराया, जिसमें NSE को RTI एक्ट के तहत पब्लिक अथॉरिटी मानने का निर्देश दिया गया।
जस्टिस विक्रम नाथ और जस्टिस संदीप मेहता की बेंच ने एक अंतरिम आदेश पारित करते हुए कहा कि CIC के आदेश के अमल पर रोक रहेगी।
कोर्ट ने आदेश दिया,
"नोटिस जारी करें, जिसका जवाब चार हफ़्ते के भीतर आना चाहिए। इस बीच सेंट्रल इन्फॉर्मेशन कमीशन द्वारा 7 जून, 2007 को पारित आदेश का असर और अमल रुका रहेगा।"
NSE की ओर से पेश होते हुए सॉलिसिटर जनरल तुषार मेहता ने कहा कि एक्सचेंज RTI एक्ट की धारा 2(h) के तहत "पब्लिक अथॉरिटी" की परिभाषा को पूरा नहीं करता है। 'थलाप्पलम सर्विस कोऑपरेटिव बैंक लिमिटेड बनाम केरल राज्य' मामले में सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फ़ैसले का ज़िक्र करते हुए उन्होंने बेंच से आग्रह किया कि वे पहले कानून में दी गई परिभाषा और पब्लिक अथॉरिटी क्या होती है, इसके दायरे की जांच करें।
सॉलिसिटर जनरल ने तर्क दिया कि NSE में लगभग 40% घरेलू निवेशक और करीब 27-30% विदेशी निवेशक हैं। इसमें सरकार की कोई हिस्सेदारी नहीं है। उन्होंने कहा कि एक्सचेंज न तो संविधान के तहत स्थापित किया गया, न ही संसद या राज्य विधानसभा द्वारा बनाए गए किसी कानून से, और न ही धारा 2(h) के अर्थ में किसी सरकारी अधिसूचना या आदेश से। उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि हाईकोर्ट से मिली अंतरिम सुरक्षा 19 साल तक लागू रही थी।
जब जस्टिस मेहता ने कहा कि यह "पारदर्शिता का दौर" है तो सॉलिसिटर जनरल ने जवाब दिया कि NSE अपनी वेबसाइट पर काफ़ी जानकारी उपलब्ध कराता है, लेकिन उन्होंने अनुरोध किया कि अंतरिम सुरक्षा जारी रखी जाए।
यह मामला तब शुरू हुआ, जब एक RTI आवेदक ने NSE से जानकारी मांगी, जिसके बाद सेंट्रल इन्फॉर्मेशन कमीशन (CIC) ने 7 जून, 2007 को यह माना कि स्टॉक एक्सचेंज RTI Act की धारा 2(h) के तहत "पब्लिक अथॉरिटी" है। CIC के आदेश को चुनौती देते हुए NSE ने दिल्ली हाई कोर्ट का रुख किया। उनका तर्क था कि यह कंपनीज़ एक्ट के तहत बनी एक प्राइवेट कंपनी है, जिसे न तो कानून के ज़रिए बनाया गया था और न ही सरकार इसकी मालिक है, इसे कंट्रोल करती है या इसे बड़े पैमाने पर फ़ंड देती है।
अप्रैल 2010 में दिल्ली हाईकोर्ट के सिंगल जज ने NSE की चुनौती खारिज की और कहा कि एक्सचेंज RTI Act की धारा 2(h) के तहत एक "पब्लिक अथॉरिटी" है। कोर्ट ने कहा कि "पब्लिक अथॉरिटी" शब्द का मतलब व्यापक रूप से समझा जाना चाहिए और RTI Act का मकसद पारदर्शिता और जवाबदेही सुनिश्चित करना है।
कोर्ट ने यह भी कहा कि सिक्योरिटीज कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स (रेगुलेशन) एक्ट के तहत NSE को मिली मान्यता, उचित सरकार के आदेश से इसकी स्थापना या गठन के बराबर है। साथ ही सेंट्रल गवर्नमेंट और SEBI का एक्सचेंज पर जो व्यापक कंट्रोल है, वह भी इसे धारा 2(h) के दायरे में लाता है।
NSE ने हाईकोर्ट की डिवीज़न बेंच के सामने उस फैसले को चुनौती दी। 4 मई 2010 को डिवीज़न बेंच ने अपील पर नोटिस जारी किया और आगे की कार्यवाही तक सिंगल जज के फैसले और 7 जून 2007 के CIC के आदेश, दोनों पर रोक लगाई। यह अंतरिम राहत तब तक जारी रही, जब तक कि हाईकोर्ट ने इस महीने की शुरुआत में अपील पर अंतिम फैसला नहीं सुना दिया।
1 जुलाई 2026 को दिल्ली हाईकोर्ट ने NSE की अपील खारिज की और सिंगल जज के इस निष्कर्ष को सही ठहराया कि NSE, RTI Act की धारा 2(h) के तहत एक "पब्लिक अथॉरिटी" है।
Case Title – National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. v. Central Information Commission & Ors.