'Put in place a mechanism for servicing RTI Act'

The Times of India: Chandigarh: Tuesday, October 16, 2012.

In a major decision to effect transparency in the working of Chandigarh Golf Club, the Central Information Commission (CIC) had held the club to be a "Public Authority' under Section 2 (h) (II) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

The CIC upheld the view of the petitioner that the golf club was leased land at highly-subsidized rates by the Chandigarh administration. Sandhu in her order said that in "view of the fact that the said club is being indirectly financed for promotion of public services by the Chandigarh administration, the same is squarely covered under the definition of 'Public Authority' as defined under Section 2 (h) (ii) of the RTI Act, 2005.''

"Thus, in view of the categorical position taken by the appellant extracted above and the fact that there is vast differential between the monthly rental being paid by the Golf Club and the commercial rent that the premises could fetch in the open market (as estimated by UT chief engineer), the CIC is of the opinion that the Golf Club is being indirectly financed and controlled by the Chandigarh administration. Chandigarh Golf Club management is hereby directed to put in place a mechanism for servicing the RTI Act, 2005, within four weeks of receipt of order," Sandhu said in her order.