2016 (11) TMI 552 - HC - Indian Laws

Production of the documents with respect to appointment and educational qualifications - A.N.M in the Health Center, Meral - whether the information sought for is the personal information and is required to be produced or not? - Held that - the information being sought for from the petitioner relates to her appointment to a Govt. job, and the educational qualification of the petitioner. In my considered view, these are not the personal information of a person who is appointed to a Govt. job and the people at large are entitled to have the information about the appointment of such person and the fact whether the person concerned is holding the required educational qualification for the same or not. As such the information, which are sought for from the petitioner, are not the personal information which could not be furnished under the RTI Act - writ application dismissed.

Summary

Issues:
The petitioner's refusal to disclose personal information under RTI Act.

Analysis:
The petitioner challenged a letter from the Civil Surgeon-cum-Chief Medical Officer, Garhwa, requesting information about her appointment and educational qualifications under the RTI Act. The petitioner argued that such personal information should not be disclosed. The petitioner cited two Supreme Court judgments to support her case, emphasizing that personal information should be protected. However, the State's counsel contended that the information requested was not personal but related to the petitioner's job appointment and educational qualifications. The court noted that the Supreme Court judgments referred to by the petitioner were about disciplinary proceedings and ACR records, not job-related information. The court held that details about job appointment and educational qualifications are not personal information and can be disclosed under the RTI Act. Consequently, the court dismissed the writ application, ruling in favor of the State.