The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to consider the petition requesting that Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to be declared as public authority.

The petition submitted by Neeraj Kumar challenged the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) July 8, 2022 decision, which had refused to disclose details about the Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) and the First Appellate Authority of the Trust.

Kumar had also filed an RTI request with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in July 2022, seeking similar information, but this was rejected by the MHA.

The Ministry argued that the “Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust” is neither owned, controlled, nor financed by the Government of India, and therefore, does not fall under the definition of a public authority. Represented by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, the petitioner sought the intervention of the Delhi HC to overturn the CIC’s order. The bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula heard the matter.

Both the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ram Janmabhumi Trust opposed the petition. Senior advocates Chetan Sharma (ASG) and Nishant Gautam (CGSC) argued that the Trust is an autonomous body and should not be categorized as a public authority.

After listening to the arguments, the court declined to intervene and disposed of the petition.

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