Information under RTI not to be released through e-mail
25 Nov, 2012While hearing a plea for the intervention of judiciary in the matters related to assault and killing of whistle blowers, a Supreme Court bench of justices RM Lodha and Anil R Dave condemned the killings and treated is as unfortunate and tragic. However, on the issue of giving directions to the central government for controlling such incidents, the bench said that as law and order lies in the state list of the seventh schedule of the Constitution, it is the duty of the respective state governments to take action and hence no guidelines could be issued.
On the question of providing information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act through e-mails, the court said that though technological intervention is a good idea, it cannot be implemented at this stage as it is not foolproof. The Apex Court was hearing a petition filed by Avishek Goenka. With over 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. killings of the information seekers, there has been a demand to offer protection to the activists who are threatened after filing applications under the Right to Information Act. The bench observed that it cannot ask the Centre to frame guidelines on the issue and offered Goenka to withdraw the petition or face its dismissal, Goenka withdrew the petition.