<p>The CBI was also asked to disclose file notings on the appointment of its director. The transparency panel rejected the CBI plea that since the agency was in the list of organisations exempted from disclosure under the RTI Act from June 9, 2011, all appeals should be considered “infructuous”.<br /><br />However, Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said that since the notification had not been issued with retrospective effect, the investigating agency will have to respond to all the applications that were filed before June 9, 2011. <br /><br />“The notification was issued on June 9, 2011 and there is no express stipulation whatsoever that the notification shall come into effect from any date prior to June 9,” Gandhi said.<br /><br />Notably, the panel made the observation while hearing a petition by Bhilwara-based activist S S Ranawat who filed the application on August 4, 2010, but was denied the information. <br /><br />Ranawat’s query seeking file notings of the CBI director’s appointment did not get any response. On the addresses and properties of officers in Delhi and Mumbai, the CBI cited the clause of personal safety. <br /><br />The Information Commissioner issued notice to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) to comply with the disclosure orders before July 30. <br /></p>
<p>The CBI was also asked to disclose file notings on the appointment of its director. The transparency panel rejected the CBI plea that since the agency was in the list of organisations exempted from disclosure under the RTI Act from June 9, 2011, all appeals should be considered “infructuous”.<br /><br />However, Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said that since the notification had not been issued with retrospective effect, the investigating agency will have to respond to all the applications that were filed before June 9, 2011. <br /><br />“The notification was issued on June 9, 2011 and there is no express stipulation whatsoever that the notification shall come into effect from any date prior to June 9,” Gandhi said.<br /><br />Notably, the panel made the observation while hearing a petition by Bhilwara-based activist S S Ranawat who filed the application on August 4, 2010, but was denied the information. <br /><br />Ranawat’s query seeking file notings of the CBI director’s appointment did not get any response. On the addresses and properties of officers in Delhi and Mumbai, the CBI cited the clause of personal safety. <br /><br />The Information Commissioner issued notice to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) to comply with the disclosure orders before July 30. <br /></p>
