Srinagar, Sep 10, KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir government has dismissed an appeal filed by Peoples Conference leader Sheikh Mohammed Imran against the denial of information under the Right to Information Act (RTI).
The First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs upheld the decision of the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), who had earlier refused to share the requested information. The FAA cited Supreme Court and High Court rulings as well as the Central Information Commission’s orders to justify its decision.
The CPIO had, on August 5, 2024, declined the RTI request, invoking provisions of the Act. Imran challenged the order, but the FAA ruled that the denial was legally sound.
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“The disposal of the RTI application by the CPIO vide order dated 05.08.2025 is well-founded and well-reasoned, and in consonance with the provisions of the RTI Act. As such, the appeal is dismissed and the said order of the CPIO is upheld,” the FAA stated in its order.
The authority further clarified that information relating to cabinet sub-committee deliberations cannot be disclosed until a decision is finalised. “The proviso to Section 8(1)(i) allows disclosure only after the decision is complete and notified. The cabinet sub-committee’s deliberations are ongoing, and no final decision has been issued,” the order said.
On the issue of status updates and timelines regarding the CSC report, the FAA observed that such details fall within the ambit of cabinet papers. “The entire set of documents, including status updates and timelines, forms part of the deliberative process. Disclosing them would risk interference,” the order explained.
It concluded that no contradiction or misleading aspect was found in the response given by the CPIO, stressing that the reply protected statutory confidentiality. [KNT]
