Part A Decision of CIC

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has not satisfactorily complied with the Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI Act) provision which requires that it publish all its affairs on its website, held the Central Information Commission (CIC). The CIC said it is inclined to impose maximum penalty on BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, if the BCI does not comply in a definite amount of time.

Chief Information Commissioner Prof Sridhar Acharyulu, formerly Registrar at Nalsar Hyderabad, stated in his 7th April, 2016 order:

“It is noticed that the Bar Council of India has not satisfactorily complied with the section 4(1) (b) requirements. It is a major breach of RTI by prestigious organization called BCI. It is also surprising that they are repeatedly taking a plea that, though they have such information in computer, they have not posted it on website. They have already exhausted 10 years of time in fulfilling this obligation. Commission directs the public authority to furnish annual report in compliance with 4(1)(b), as required u/s. 19(8)(a)(vi) and directs the PIO to show cause why maximum penalty should not be imposed for this breach of RTI. Commission directs the Chairman, BCI to file an affidavit explaining when they would be complying with 4(1)(b) on their official website. All the responses should reach the commission by May 9, 2016. If not, Commission will be compelled to initiate appropriate action against the Chairman, BCI for non-compliance of section 4(1)(b).”