New Delhi, Jan 12 (Inditop.com) Following is a chronology of the case that put judges’ assets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act:
Nov 11, 2007: RTI activist S.C. Agrawal files a plea in the Supreme Court seeking information on judges’ assets.
Nov 30, 2007: Information denied in the reply to him.
Dec 8, 2007: First appeal filed at Supreme Court’s registry against the denial of information.
March 5, 2008: Agrawal approaches Central Information Commission (CIC).
Jan 6, 2009: CIC asks Supreme Court to disclose information on judges’ assets on the ground that the chief justice of India’s (CJI) office comes within the ambit of RTI Act.
Jan 17, 2009: Supreme Court moves Delhi High Court against CIC order.
Jan 19, 2009: Delhi High Court stays CIC order.
Feb 26, 2009: Supreme Court says declaration of assets by its judges to the chief justice are personal information which cannot be revealed under RTI Act.
Mar 17, 2009: Supreme Court says its judges are not averse to declaring their assets and parliament can enact a law pertaining to such declaration but it must be ensured that the law is not misused.
May 1, 2009: Delhi High Court Bar Association moves application in high court saying judges should voluntarily declare assets.
May 4, 2009: High court reserves order on Supreme Court plea.
Sep 2, 2009: Single Bench of high court upholds CIC’s order saying CJI’s office comes within the ambit of RTI Act and judges’ assets be made public under the transparency law.
Oct 5, 2009: Apex court challenges single bench verdict before division bench.
Nov 13, 2009: High court reserves judgement on the appeal.
Jan 12, 2010: High court says the office of CJI comes within the ambit of RTI Act.
