CIC order for disclosing info on CBI director stayed by HC.

IBNLive.com; Friday, Jul 29, 2011,

The CIC's order had come on Ranawat's plea filed under the RTI Act challenging CBI's refusal to part with the information sought by him about the file notings on the appointment of the CBI's director and the assets of its officials.Appearing for CBI, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Haren Raval and advocate Vikas Pahwa said the Commission's order is illegal as the statutory body has no power of judicial review.The senior lawyer said the Commission itself is the creation of a statute and it does not have the power to pass any such order.On July 4, the transparency panel had directed CBI to disclose file notings on the appointment of its Director Singh, besides making public the assets of its officials posted in Mumbai and Delhi.The CIC had rejected CBI's plea that since it has been brought in the list of organisations exempted from disclosure under transparency law from June 9, all the appeals should now be considered infructuous.The Commission had said the notification has not been issued with a retrospective effect, hence the agency shall respond to all the applications filed before June 9.While Ranawat's plea to CBI seeking file notings about the appointment of its Director got no response, his plea for details of CBI officials' assets was rejected on the ground of personal safety of the officers.