Cabinet asset details only if Somnath says so: CIC

In case of the Rajya Sabha,the CIC said,If there is any equivalent rule with regard to the Rajya Sabha,the same may also be exercised. If no such rules in fact exist,the matter will be referred to the third parties concerned. The Bench gave 30 days time to the Upper House to draft the necessary rules for kick-starting a procedure.

The Bench dismissed the contentions of the Prime Ministers Office PMO that ministers divulged details of their assets to it in a fiduciary nature. To argue a fiduciary relationship in submission of statements on assets to PMO,when such statements have in any case under law also to be made available at t the time of election before the Election Commission of India,is not in our view a valid argument, Habibullah observed in his judgment.

Arguing for RTI appellant SC Agarwal,his counsel and senior Supreme Court lawyer,Kamini Jaiswal,submitted before the Bench that it is very much in the public interest to know of the assets of the Ministers holding public office and particularly,what property they may have acquired after the declaration of their assets before the Election Commission of India.