New Delhi: A CIC order asking the Supreme
Court registry to compile and maintain data on period for
which the apex court keeps its verdicts reserved before
pronouncing them and supply the same to information seeker,
was stayed by the Delhi High Court on Monday.
While staying the Central Information Commission`s August
3 order, Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also issued a notice to
transparency activist Commodore (retired) Lokesh K Batra and
sought his stand on the apex court registry`s plea against
the Commission`s order.
The apex court`s registry has moved the High Court
against the Commission`s order saying the same was without
jurisdiction.
Appearing for the Supreme Court Registry, Attorney
General G E Vahanvati said "there does not exist any separate
compilation of list of cases where arguments have been heard
and orders reserved."
Seeking quashing of the CIC order, Vahanvati contended
"CIC cannot direct to create a document which does not exist.
Only documents which are existing and held by public authority
are accessible under the RTI Act."
"The direction of CIC to create compilation is entirely
without jurisdiction," he said.
Moving the High Court against the CIC order through
counsel Maneesha Dhir, the apex court registry said the entire
data relating to pending cases was already in the Supreme
Court`s website and is updated on a monthly basis.
PTI
