Times of India: Chandigarh: Wednesday, 27 August 2025.
The Punjab Bureau of
Investment Promotion (PBIP) claims to have attracted a whopping Rs 93,758 crore
investment from 6,021 proposals since March 16, 2022, during the Aam Aadmi
Party (AP) govt's tenure. But it's apparently all very secret.
In response to an RTI application by TOI, the bureau refused to disclose details about these new projects, citing sections dealing with "trade secrets", "commercial confidence" and a "fiduciary relationship" with the companies.
The RTI application sought a list of new industrial units, their locations and the industrial sectors they belong to. It also requested copies of primary approval documents, such as land allocation and environmental clearances, as well as a list of projects that have either actually established or received final approvals.
The application also requested copies of documents, reports, and data on establishment and operationalisation of new industrial units or projects during this period.
It was a flat ‘no' for nearly all the queries.
PBIP's assistant public information officer justified the refusal to provide names, locations, and approval details, citing "third-party commercial business information" that is "exempted under sections 8(1)(d) & 8(1)(e) of the Right to Information Act, 2005". Under Section 8(1)(d) of RTI Act, a public authority is not obligated to provide information containing commercial confidence, trade secrets, or intellectual property.
The primary purpose of this exemption is to prevent the disclosure of such information from harming the competitive position of a third party. Similarly, Section 8(1)(e) of the Act exempts the disclosure of information held by a person in a fiduciary relationship (where a person or company controls money or property belonging to others).
The RTI application was initially filed with the department of industries and commerce and was later transferred to the bureau, which sent a reply on Aug 18, 2025. "Invest Punjab has received 6,021 proposals for new projects with proposed investment of Rs 93,758 crore since March 16, 2022," it said.
RTI activist and lawyer Kamal Anand criticised PBIP's stance, arguing that when the state govt publicly makes claims of massive investment, it should also provide details of new projects.
"When names of new projects are disclosed by agencies like RERA, the claims of trade secrets and fiduciary relationship ring hollow. These terms are not applicable to providing basic information like names and locations or companies," he said, adding: "Govt's duty to inform citizens outweighs the commercial confidentiality of a private company, particularly when the projects are a matter of public interest and the state is involved in their facilitation and support."
Another RTI activist, Manik Goyal, said PBIP's reply "raises suspicion that a part of the proposed investment being claimed by the state govt may not have translated on the ground."
He noted a concerning trend among state govt departments to use such pretexts to deny information. "It is not a one-off case as lately there has been a trend in the state govt departments to cite such justification to refuse information under RTI. Ironically, it is happening during the tenure of AAP, a party that itself emerged from activism," he added.
In Feb 2025, Punjab govt had claimed to have attracted investments worth Rs 86,000 crore since March 2022, which it said would create nearly 3.92 lakh job opportunities for the youth of the state.
In response to an RTI application by TOI, the bureau refused to disclose details about these new projects, citing sections dealing with "trade secrets", "commercial confidence" and a "fiduciary relationship" with the companies.
The RTI application sought a list of new industrial units, their locations and the industrial sectors they belong to. It also requested copies of primary approval documents, such as land allocation and environmental clearances, as well as a list of projects that have either actually established or received final approvals.
The application also requested copies of documents, reports, and data on establishment and operationalisation of new industrial units or projects during this period.
It was a flat ‘no' for nearly all the queries.
PBIP's assistant public information officer justified the refusal to provide names, locations, and approval details, citing "third-party commercial business information" that is "exempted under sections 8(1)(d) & 8(1)(e) of the Right to Information Act, 2005". Under Section 8(1)(d) of RTI Act, a public authority is not obligated to provide information containing commercial confidence, trade secrets, or intellectual property.
The primary purpose of this exemption is to prevent the disclosure of such information from harming the competitive position of a third party. Similarly, Section 8(1)(e) of the Act exempts the disclosure of information held by a person in a fiduciary relationship (where a person or company controls money or property belonging to others).
The RTI application was initially filed with the department of industries and commerce and was later transferred to the bureau, which sent a reply on Aug 18, 2025. "Invest Punjab has received 6,021 proposals for new projects with proposed investment of Rs 93,758 crore since March 16, 2022," it said.
RTI activist and lawyer Kamal Anand criticised PBIP's stance, arguing that when the state govt publicly makes claims of massive investment, it should also provide details of new projects.
"When names of new projects are disclosed by agencies like RERA, the claims of trade secrets and fiduciary relationship ring hollow. These terms are not applicable to providing basic information like names and locations or companies," he said, adding: "Govt's duty to inform citizens outweighs the commercial confidentiality of a private company, particularly when the projects are a matter of public interest and the state is involved in their facilitation and support."
Another RTI activist, Manik Goyal, said PBIP's reply "raises suspicion that a part of the proposed investment being claimed by the state govt may not have translated on the ground."
He noted a concerning trend among state govt departments to use such pretexts to deny information. "It is not a one-off case as lately there has been a trend in the state govt departments to cite such justification to refuse information under RTI. Ironically, it is happening during the tenure of AAP, a party that itself emerged from activism," he added.
In Feb 2025, Punjab govt had claimed to have attracted investments worth Rs 86,000 crore since March 2022, which it said would create nearly 3.92 lakh job opportunities for the youth of the state.
.JPG)
.JPG)
