RTI: Withholding of information, that is not sensitive/ confidential, is unjustified

Subash Mohapatra Vs State of Odisha (Orissa High Court)

Held that the information that does not touch upon any of the sensitive and confidential activities undertaken by the Vigilance Department, cannot be withheld.

Facts-

The writ petitions, by way of Public Interest Litigation (PIL), involve a challenge to the impugned notification dated 11th August 2016 issued by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Odisha.

The main ground of challenge to the impugned notification is that it violates Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution of India which guarantees to all Indian citizens the fundamental right to information. It is submitted that under the RTI Act disclosure is the norm and refusal of information, the exception.

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