Uttarakhand Information Commission Directs High Court to Release Judicial Complaint Data
The State Information Commission of Uttarakhand has issued a significant order. It directs the Uttarakhand High Court to disclose information about complaints and disciplinary actions against judicial officers in subordinate courts. This directive comes in response to a Right to Information application filed by senior Indian Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi.
The RTI Application and Initial Denial
Sanjiv Chaturvedi, currently posted in Haldwani, submitted his RTI application in May 2023. He sought specific details regarding complaints against subordinate judges. His request included the name of the competent authority for submitting corruption complaints, the total number of such complaints from January 2020 to April 2025, and the number of cases where disciplinary or criminal action was recommended or initiated.
The Public Information Officer of the high court responded in June 2023 but provided incomplete information. Chaturvedi then appealed to the first appellate authority within the high court. This appeal also failed to secure the requested data.
The SIC Hearing and Ruling
The matter reached the State Information Commission recently. During the hearing, the high court's PIO argued against disclosure. The officer cited confidentiality concerns and the involvement of third-party information. The PIO stated that information about specific complaints could be provided if requested. However, general statistical data required sanction from the Chief Justice.
Chief Information Commissioner Radha Raturi heard arguments from both sides. After consideration, the commission ruled in favor of transparency. The SIC directed the joint registrar of the Uttarakhand High Court to furnish the requested data. This disclosure must follow due permission from the competent authority as per established procedures.
Legal Representation and Broader Context
Sudershan Goel, the lawyer representing Sanjiv Chaturvedi, explained the necessity of this application. He cited several instances of questionable practices encountered in lower courts. These included erroneous recording of presence during hearings and improper sharing of case documents with third parties. Goel also mentioned a specific incident where a false complaint with fake signatures was filed to damage his client's reputation.
"This is a landmark order by the commission," Goel stated. "It will help usher in greater transparency in how district-level judiciary functions."
This development in Uttarakhand contrasts with a similar case in Delhi last year. In August 2023, the Delhi High Court declined to provide statistical data on complaints against district-level judges since 2015. The PIO there responded that no such data was maintained and therefore could not be shared.
The Uttarakhand SIC's order now sets a precedent. It emphasizes that statistical information about judicial complaints should be accessible under the Right to Information Act, subject to proper authorization procedures.
