In its initial response, the board had denied information on the cost of answer books, the quantity purchased and the total expenditure incurred on procurement. It had also withheld details relating to the tender process, including participating firms, quoted rates and vendor selection, citing exemptions under sections 8(1)(d), 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act.
The board in its reply had only disclosed that answer books were printed on paper ranging from 60 GSM to 120 GSM, contained between 8 and 48 pages, and were available in two sizes. It also stated that records on the weight of individual answer books were not maintained.
The board had denied information about examination fees saying that such data was maintained on a financial year basis and declined to provide specific expenditure details, news agency PTI reported. The board also said that expenditure on practical examinations was booked under a broader expenditure head and could not be segregated separately.
The applicant challenged the response before the CIC, arguing that disclosure of procurement and expenditure records was warranted in the public interest.
The CIC held that the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) had denied information under exemption clauses “without giving any proper justification”. “Accordingly, the impugned reply of the CPIO dated 18.03.2025 in the absence of any justification for denial of the information sought, is hereby set aside,” the CIC said.
The CIC also noted that the CPIO neither appeared for the hearing nor sent a written response to provide a justification.
The CIC expressed disappointment on the board’s conduct and said that the CPIO should have provided the relevant information while masking or redacting parts that were exempt from disclosure under RTI.
Under Section 8 (1) (d) of the Act, information such as commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, can be denied, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information.
“Now, considering the averments of the Appellant during hearing regarding irregularity on such tenders, the Commission, deems it fit, to direct, CPIO to revisit the contents of the RTI application in question and provide a revised point-wise categorical replies along with relevant permissible information that can be provided as per the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005,” the CIC said.
The CIC also emphasised that the Supreme Court and the commission have repeatedly called for limiting the use of the exemption clauses to ensure accountability in public procurement and contracts by public authorities, the report said.
