Whether the assets and liabilities of an IAS officer is a matter of public interest or an intrusion into his personal life?
Mahithi Hakku Jagruthi Vedike, an organisation working to promote RTI and combat corruption, has tossed this serious question before the Karnataka Information Commission, headed by former Chief Secretary of Karnataka government, K K Misra.
What has doubled the trouble is this information is being sought by Jayashree, the wife of an IAS officer Vijay Kumar, who “earned fame” for being transferred six times in six months.
As per the information, Ms Jayashree had sought details of assets and liabilities of three IAS officers, including Dilip Rau, V Madhu and Bharatlal Meena,, from the public information officer of Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Services) a few months ago.

‘Intrusion’
While Madhu furnished information about his assets and liabilities, the other two IAS officers treated this is an intrusion of third party into their privacy.
They also believed making such information public may invite unscrupulous elements to target them. Ms Jayashree had complained against the APIO to the commission on April 2. On Tuesday, the case was heard and the State Information Commission maintained “annual property returns of government servants constitute personal information but these can be disclosed if the larger public interest justifies such disclosure”.
The commission finally ruled that the request for information be sent back to the respondent with a direction to correct the omission and decide whether it would be in public interest to disclose the information.
Reacting to the judgment, Ms Jayashree said she respects the verdict.
“However, the 8 (J) of the RTI Act says the details which could be furnished before Parliament and Assemblies cannot be denied to citizens under RTI Act,” she added.