Delhi HC issues notice to CBI's CPIO on contempt petition

New Delhi, March 29 After hearing the contempt petition filed by IFS Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi regarding non-compliance of its order passed on January 30 this year, the Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice to Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of CBI.

In September 2023, the High Court had issued notices to two Senior Officers of CBI, on Chaturvedi's contempt petition, for not following the orders of High Court, for disclosing information on his RTI application.

Delhi High Court Justice Mini Pushkarna after hearing contempt petition No. CONT.CAS(C) 503/2024 & CM APPL. 18684/2024 on March, 28 said, “ Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that by way of order dated 25th November, 2019, the Information Commissioner of the Central Information Commission (“CIC”) had directed "Keeping in view the totality of circumstances discussed,
Commission directs the CPIO to provide information as sought in the RTI Application to the Appellant free of cost within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order.

A compliance report to this effect shall be sent by the CPIO to the Commission.”

Counsel for the petitioner further submitted that the petition of the respondent against the aforesaid order was dismissed by the learned Single Judge vide judgment dated 30th January, 2024. It is submitted that despite categorical directions, the requisite documents have still not been supplied to the petitioner."

The Court said," Issue notice."

Counsel appearing for the respondent accepted notice and submitted that the respondent is in the process of filing an appeal against the judgment dated 30th January, 2024.

Then the court said,"Let reply be filed within a period of four weeks. Rejoinder thereto, if

any, be filed within two weeks thereafter. List on 27th May, 2024."

The present petition has been filed by Chaturvedi alleging willful disobedience of the judgment dated 30th January, 2024 passed in W.P. (C) No. 2833/2020.

It is submitted that despite categorical directions, the requisite documents have still not been supplied to the petitioner”.

In this matter, IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi had sought information from CBI, regarding certain investigations done by him as CVO, AIIMS, in year 2017. However, when information was denied to him by CBI, he had approached Central Information Commission. CIC had allowed his appeal in December 2019 and had directed CBI to provide information to the officer.

However, CBI, subsequently challenged this order before Delhi High Court in year 2020. In order passed on January 30th this year, by Justice Subramonium Prasad, Delhi High Court, had rejected all the contentions of CBI against orders of CIC and had observed that “organizations mentioned under Second Schedule of the Act” have to grant information, “if the information sought pertains to the allegation of corruption or violation of human rights”.