CIC won’t review order denying info on Sonia

In a fresh plea before the CIC, he sought review of the order referring to a ruling of the Delhi High Court on December 7 last year that the Commission can reconsider its decision. “There is no similarity of facts and circumstances of the two cases. Further, the understanding of the provisions of the RTI Act, their interpretation and application in the factual situation of the particular case by the Commission appears perfectly sound and correct,” Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said.

“The factual matrix of the two cases is entirely different…whatever has been said or held by the High Court in the Bhagat Singh case cannot be held applicable to the present case,” the CIC said.

It also held that the matter was of no relevance to this petition as Sonia Gandhi’s election and the question of her citizenship had already been disposed by the apex court in 2001. The Commission also expressed its displeasure on the allegation of Choraria that their previous order was biased.

“References to what the petitioner calls bias behind passing the said order by the Chief Information Commissioner are not appreciated,” it said.

The President’s Secretariat had denied information to Choraria in 2006 on his three applications — two relating to citizenship of Sonia and one concerning her communication with the then President APJ Abdul Kalam on the formation of Government after the 2004 general elections — under RTI.