HC asks UIDAI to provide under RTI Act copy of agreements with external organisations for handling grievances
Delhi High Court has asked the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to provide under the RTI Act a copy of its agreements with external organisations for handling grievances on its behalf. The high court said the agreements can be provided by UIDAI under the Right to Information (RTI) Act excepting the non-disclosure agreements entered into with the personnel and the details of individuals who will be covered under the agreement.
«The confidentiality is to be maintained by the agencies only for the purpose of ensuring that the details of the individuals are not revealed to a third party. The entire contract need not be kept a secret and there is nothing inappropriate in disclosing of the agreements more so when the recent trend is to encourage public participation in such ventures,» Justice Subramonium Prasad said.
The high court said transparency forms the core of good governance and promotes efficiency and effectiveness in the functioning of the government.
«The abovesaid details can be redacted from the agreement and the copies of the agreement, after redacting such portions, can be provided to the Petitioner.
In view of the above, the impugned order (of CIC) stands modified accordingly,» it said.
The high court passed the order on a plea by lawyer Prashant Reddy T challenging an order passed by the Central Information Commission (CIC) to the extent that it has denied the access to the copy of agreements entered into by UIDAI with external organisations for handling grievances on its behalf.
