High-rise near South Block: Delhi HC clears way for RTI info

Indian Express: New Delhi: Friday, 05 December 2014.

The Delhi High Court dismissed objections raised against release of information regarding change in land use, which had allowed a high-rise building to come up in the diplomatic enclave near South Block and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

RTI activist Subhash Aggarwal had obtained orders from the Central Information Commission (CIC) in January to get information regarding the decision to allow DLF group subsidiary Edward Keventer (Successors) Ltd to construct a multi-storey residential building on a 22-acre plot near Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The company had approached the High Court and obtained a stay on the CIC order to release the information to Aggarwal.

According to allegations raised by Aggarwal, Edward Keventer had acquired the plot – meant for a dairy farm – in the diplomatic enclave at Sardar Patel Marg. It then got the clearance to build a multi-storey residential building, despite serious security concerns raised by the IB, the PMO and the officials of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Aggarwal, through his RTI, sought information on issues of environmental standards, carrying capacities and impact assessment that such land use change would entail, along with urban planning and zoning issues.

The RTI had also sought file notings of the Urban Development Ministry on the decision to change the land use. The CIC had allowed the plea on grounds that the information was in public interest. But the company approached the High Court against the CIC order and obtained a stay on the release of information alleging that proper procedures had not been followed.