HC stays CIC order against Arera club.

Daily Bhaskar:Friday, February 17, 2012.

Bhopal: The MP High court has stayed the state’s chief information commissioner’s (CIC’s) order to bring Bhopal’s elite Arera Club under the purview of the Right to Information Act on Thursday.

The petition against the CIC order was moved by Chief Secretary Avni Vaish in his capacity as chairman of the club.

The single bench of Justice Rajendra Menon stayed the order and served notices on respondents including the state information commission.

The CIC had ruled that the Arera Club which is patronized by top bureaucrats and the city’s wealthy people would come under the purview of the RTI act.

CIC Padmapani Tiwari rejected the club office bearers’ contention that the club is a private body and does not fall under the purview of the RTI act.

The CIC order came on an appeal made by Transparency International activist Ajay Dube. He had sought information regarding financial activities of the club. The club administration refused the information on the grounds that the club was not covered under the RTI Act.

“It is clear that the club was established by the state government and State funding is provided to it from time to time. Therefore, the club administration is ordered to provide the information sought by the applicant immediately,” ruled the CIC.

According to Dubey, Club’s activities were funded by the State government and lavish dinners were organised with public money. So, there was no reason for it to be exempted from the RTI act.