Kerala - Kochi   

SIC order stayed

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has stayed an order of the State Information Commission (SIC) directing the Registrar General of the High Court to provide copies of documents relating to a judicial proceeding to an applicant. The stay order was passed on a writ petition filed by the Registrar General challenging the directive of the commission.

The applicant, A. Ibrahimkunju of Alappuzha, had also challenged Rule 12 of the Kerala High Court (Right to Information) Rules which barred entertaining applications seeking information or documents relating to any judicial proceedings. The commission had observed that the rule was a total negation of the right of a citizen.

The Registrar General, in his petition, pointed out that the commission had exceeded its jurisdiction. He said that the Right to Information Act did not confer any power on the State or Central commissions to invalidate or strike down rules issued by the government or appropriate authority.

The Supreme Court or High Court had the power to strike down such rules. Therefore, the finding of the commission was illegal. Besides, the High Court rules had provisions enabling parties in a case or others to obtain copies of documents or records of a judicial proceeding.

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