Tribunal Bar Association moves Gujarat SIC for information

Gujarat State Co-operative Tribunal Bar Association has moved the state information commission challenging the order of the registrar of cooperative societies denying access to information about cooperative banks. The association had sought details of the cooperative banks which had gone into liquidation in the last decade. However, the department rejected the application stating that only a citizen of India could apply for the information and not the association.

HS Shah, president of the association, said, “We found this reply strange and decided to move the state information commission. The central information commission had, in 2007, expanded the horizons of the applicability of the act. We have pointed out that an association too can seek information under RTI act.”

Shah said, “The main intention of RTI act is to make the administration of government department more transparent by bringing them under the ambit of information provision. The department is rejecting the application on such flimsy grounds as they want to hide information that can eventually unearth a scandal of crores of rupees.” 

Shah added, “According to information from unofficial sources, more than 80 banks have gone in liquidation in last decade. If such information is made public, it may expose many faces.”

Shah said that later, he moved an application on his name and his wife's name, who is also the vice-president of the association. “However, this application was rejected on the ground that two persons cannot file a joint application. We challenged the order with the appellate authority and the hearing is on Wednesday,” Shah added.