M A I N   N E W S

HC says no to info on Sonia’s religion
Tribune News Service

The Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ranjan Gogoi asserted: "It is evident that the petitioner is making efforts to make unjustified inroads into the privacy of the individuals, even if they are public figure and consequently the information cannot be made public”.

“Information supplied to the census officer cannot be made public in view of the statutory bar imposed by Section 15 of the Census Act,” the Bench added.

Wadhwa had challenged the judgment of Single Judge dated July 29, 2009. The Judge had dismissed his petition for quashing the order dated December 28, 2006.

He had initially moved an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005, before the registrar-general, census operations, New Delhi, seeking information “regarding certain individuals, which according to him are the leaders of the nation and the information regarding their religion was sought in public interest”.

The request was declined on February 7, 2006, on the ground that no person had a right to inspect any book, register or record made by a census officer in the discharge of his duty

The Bench asserted: “The sum and substance of the appellant’s plea is that the person in respect of whom information is sought are important public figures and he as a citizen is entitled to know the religion practiced by them. We are unable to agree with the appellant.

“It is apparent the appellant is wanting to elicit information about the religion of such public persons. India being a socialist, democratic and secular democratic republic, the quest to obtain the information about the religion professed or not professed by a citizen cannot be in any event, be considered to be in public interest”.