I saw a video on YouTube in which the Supreme Court was scolding a young lawyer for having sought information about a municipal body by inspection. The court was asking him why he wanted this information and telling him not to use the right to information (RTI) since he was an officer of the court.
The court tells the lawyer that it will impose costs on him. The court lambasts him for asking about recruitment, budget, etc. The judge tells him, “It is high time all this is put to an end.” The court asks why he wants to inspect the records of a municipal body.
Recently, a Madras High Court division Bench comprising Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice K. Ravichandrababu has ruled that RTI applicants must give reasons for seeking information.
I found it difficult to believe that a citizen could be asked why he was seeking information from a municipal body. I have heard many public servants ask why a citizen is seeking certain information. If we accept this position, we could be asked to explain why we wish to speak or publish something. Our fundamental rights are our human rights recognised by the Constitution.
