Order to bring RInfra under RTI stayed

In a major reprieve for Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra), the Bombay high court on Thursday stayed an order passed by the State Information Commission (SIC) holding that the provisions of the Right to Information Act were applicable to the company.

In a major reprieve for Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra), the Bombay high court on Thursday stayed an order passed by the State Information Commission (SIC) holding that the provisions of the Right to Information Act were applicable to the company.

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The division bench of justice BH Marlapalle and justice Nishita Mhatre also directed the state government to file, within 8 weeks, an affidavit in reply to the petition filed by RInfra challenging the order. On July 19, the SIC had brought RInfra under the purview of RTI observing that although it was a private company, it provided essential public services like electricity and hence would be covered under the provisions of the RTI Act.

The SIC had also directed the company to appoint information and appellate officers for providing information to activist Anil Galgali, who had sought information related to his own electricity bills. However, when the company denied the information stating that provisions of the RTI Act were not applicable to them, Galgali had carried the matter to CIC in appeal.

They further contended that even the SIC had accepted that RInfra is a private company and had not been set up by the government. The court has now posted the petition for further hearing after eight weeks.