While SICs/CIC may reject particular applications if they fall under the exceptions catalogued in the RTI Act, they cannot impose overarching bans on citizens' right to information.
As the NHRC’s credibility builds on a considerably shaky ground in the past few years, Justice Atul Sreedharan’s criticism of the Commission for selectively dabbling in matters beyond its scope is far from new.
Appearing in person, Delhi’s ex-chief minister recounted several instances that raised doubts of biasness by Justice Sharma in the Liquor Policy case even as the Solicitor General dismissed them as 'fantasy'.
Last week, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pressed to discard ‘constitutional morality’ - a ‘vague and subjective’ notion - that had expanded judicial review. But from M.P. Singh and Upendra Baxi to Justice Chandrachud, a long tradition of thought has challenged this framing.
Justice Sharma noted that the Court cannot be so fragile as to yield to imaginary apprehension of bias against the institution and should adjudicate in adherence to the Constitution and the law rather than unfounded insinuations.