On 11 February 2021, HYDERABAD HIGH COURT REGISTRAR GENERAL HEARS RTI APPEALS DATED 27 JAN 2021 FILED FOR INFO ON CASES ON WATER BODIES PENDING IN HIGH COURT HYDERABAD.
2 RTIs dated 5 November 2020 filed for info on water bodies cases pending in High Court. PIO had rejected RTIs vide orders dated 23 and 30 December 2020.
Today, 11 February 2021, the Registrar General conducted hearing on RTI Appeals dated 27 November 2020, filed against the order of PIO, High Court Hyderabad, dated 23 December 2020 and 30 December 2020 respectively. RTI appeals were filed for failure of PIO High Court to give detailed information sought on number of pending cases in the form of PILs or WPs relating to water bodies.
First RTI query was as follows:
Please furnish us information within 48 hours as this is concerning life of Hyderabad/Telangana.Please furnish us information column wise detailing the following:
1. number of cases pending in High Court from as on 30 september 2020 pertaining to encroachment in water bodies – FTL and/or buffer zone, and encroachmet in outflow channels/ inflow channes/ nalas etc connected to water bodies; plz give row wise information with pil/wp numbers and waterbody involved;
2. number of cases disposed out of the total number given in 1 above.
3. number of cases where encroachment eviction orders issued
4. and number of cases where such eviction orders executed.’
RTI Applicant argued that the information sought would aid the High court in rendering justice to the people of hyderabad who had suffered loss of life and property that was a direct fall out of water bodies being encroached and polluted.
She took objection to the rejection of her RTI that her query was along lines of ‘being responsible’ and not being ‘judicious’.
She assured the High Court that as a responsible and conscious citizen she has approached the court for protection and restoration of water bodies. One of the High Court orders itself called from the High Court administration for clubbing of all the water bodies cases. With digitalization and computerization giving pending cases on a particular subject matter such as the crucial one as environment/ water bodies should not be very difficult.
Registrar General given a patient hearing and again asked what information sought and assured that if information available it would be definitely given.
We wait for the orders and shall update you on the matter.
Best,
Dr Lubna Sarwath
RTI Applicant at Hyderabad High Court for pending cases on water bodies at Hyderabad High Court
