The Hindu: Bengaluru: Thursday, 27 November 2025.
The Karnataka Information
Commission has pulled up officials of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and
the district milk unions for refusing to share information on their foreign
trips, after the officers rejected Right to Information (RTI) applications by
claiming that their institutions were not public authorities covered under the
RTI Act, 2004. The order came in two related cases where the applicants were
denied basic details of the trip.
According to the commission’s order, the KMF officers had repeatedly declined to share the information sought by citizens under the RTI, arguing that they do not fall within the definition of a “public authority” and therefore are not required to respond under the RTI Act. The commission examined the matter and noted that KMF is a cooperative institution that receives substantial financial assistance from the state government, works under various government statutes, and performs functions that have a clear public character.
The commission also noted that when public funds or government-backed resources are involved, citizens have the right to know how the money is used. Such information, the commission observed, is expected to be available to citizens under the RTI Act, 2004.
The commission has directed the public information officers (PIOs) to provide the complete set of records asked in the RTI applications, including all documents related to the foreign tour, such as sanction letters, reasons for the visit, and cost details. The PIOs have been asked to report compliance to the commissioner after supplying the information.
According to the commission’s order, the KMF officers had repeatedly declined to share the information sought by citizens under the RTI, arguing that they do not fall within the definition of a “public authority” and therefore are not required to respond under the RTI Act. The commission examined the matter and noted that KMF is a cooperative institution that receives substantial financial assistance from the state government, works under various government statutes, and performs functions that have a clear public character.
The commission also noted that when public funds or government-backed resources are involved, citizens have the right to know how the money is used. Such information, the commission observed, is expected to be available to citizens under the RTI Act, 2004.
The commission has directed the public information officers (PIOs) to provide the complete set of records asked in the RTI applications, including all documents related to the foreign tour, such as sanction letters, reasons for the visit, and cost details. The PIOs have been asked to report compliance to the commissioner after supplying the information.
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