Central Information Commission Orders Railways to Disclose Amrit Bharat Station Redevelopment Records under Right to Information Act

Central Information Commission Directs West Central Railway to Furnish Records Under RTI Act

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has issued a directive to the West Central Railway to provide records related to redevelopment and construction works carried out at a railway station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The decision was made after a complaint was filed seeking copies of documents concerning the redevelopment of the Narmadapuram railway station in Madhya Pradesh.

The railway authorities had initially denied the information citing exemptions under Sections 8(1)(j) and 8(1)(d) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. However, the respondent railway officials later agreed to provide a revised reply to the complainant in response to the RTI application.

During the hearing, the CIC Information Commissioner Swagat Das pulled up the railway authorities for denying the information, stating that the rejection under Section 8(1)(j) was "misplaced and untenable" as the provision had "no applicability in the present case." The commission also found that Section 8(1)(d) had been invoked in a "mechanical and unjustified manner" without demonstrating how disclosure would harm the competitive position of any third party.

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The commission observed that the information sought related to redevelopment works at a railway station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and the utilisation of public funds, which "squarely fall within the ambit of larger public interest." The CIC said that it takes a "serious view of such casual and improper denial of information, particularly in matters involving public works and transparency in governance."

As a result, the CIC directed the railway authorities to provide a revised point-wise reply and furnish the requested information free of cost after severing any commercially sensitive details, if required, in accordance with the RTI Act. The commission also cautioned the Public Information Officer to exercise due care while invoking exemption clauses and ensure that information is not denied without proper justification, especially in matters involving public interest and public accountability.