Challenge against Rajasthan High Court RTI Rules; Court issues Notice on Law Student’s Plea [Read Petition]

A Division Bench of Rajasthan High Court on Monday issued notice to the Registrar General of the High Court, on a petition challenging the Court’s RTI Rules. The petition, filed by a law student, Dharma Raj, challenges the Rajasthan Right to Information (High Court and Subordinate Courts) Rules, 2006, as being ultra vires the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Rules were formulated by the then Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, drawing authority from Section 28 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The petition challenges the prescription of the fee prescribed by these Rules, which sets it at Rs. 100 or Rs. 500 for making an application; and Rs. 100 for the first appeal. The petition contends, “Quantum of fee (Rupees 100 and 500) as prescribed under Rule 4 of the Rules 2006 disqualifies, essentially in practice, such people, who are neither below poverty line nor can afford this much sum of money for seeking information, from exercise of their right to information. Therefore Rule 4 of the Rules 2006 to such extent is frustrating the objective of the Act 2005 with respect to judiciary in the State.”

Read More