Delhi HC dismisses plea to bring Rajiv Gandhi Foundation under RTI

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a 2011 plea seeking to declare the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation a public authority under the Right to Information Act. Justice Swarana Kanta threw out the petition after noting the petitioner, Delhi-based lawyer Shanmuga Patro, had not appeared on several dates.

Patro had challenged a 2010 order of the Chief Information Commission, which had rejected his plea stating the foundation was not a public authority. He argued the foundation received government funds and carried out large-scale public activities, making it a public authority. The court had earlier asked the foundation to file its audited accounts from inception till 2010-2011 to help decide the matter.

The foundation's counsel said it was not set up through a government notification and had received only four per cent government funding, which was 'insignificant' compared with its overall budget. With the dismissal, the CIC's 2010 finding that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is not a public authority under the RTI Act stands.