CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Vs. SUBHASH CHANDRA AGARWAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner (hereafter "CIDC") has filed the present petition impugning the order dated 25.06.2015 (hereafter "the impugned order") passed by the Central Information Commission (hereafter "CIC"). By the impugned order, the CIC has held CIDC to be a Public Authority within the meaning of Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (hereafter "the RTI Act").

(2.) The respondent had filed an application dated 08.04.2013 under the RTI Act, inter alia, seeking information about file notings/ correspondences/ documents regarding the establishment of CIDC. The respondent did not receive any information in response to the aforesaid application. Consequently, on 21.05.2013, the respondent filed a complaint under the RTI Act before the CIC. The CIC took notice of the complaint and on 25.06.2015, passed the impugned order declaring CIDC a public authority in terms of the RTI Act. The CIC further directed CIDC to appoint a Central Public Information Officer and a First Appellate Authority under the relevant provisions of the RTI Act and to respond to the respondent's application.

(3.) The only question, which falls for consideration of this Court in the present petition, is whether CIDC is a "public authority" as defined under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.