Karnataka High Court Rebukes Nirmithi Kendra Officials for RTI Act Violations

Quick Summary:

• The High Court of karnataka criticized Nirmithi Kendra, Chitradurga officials for attempting to avoid openness by claiming exemption from the RTI Act.
• The court declared Nirmithi Kendras as “public authorities” under the RTI Act, citing State government sponsorship and control via the RDPR department.
• Justice Suraj Govindaraj dismissed a petition challenging a 2017 directive from the State Information Commission to provide requested information under the RTI Act.
• Nirmithi kendras are funded by government entities like HUDCO and work preferentially on government projects, supervised by top-level administrative officials.
• A ₹50,000 cost was imposed on Nirmithi Kendra for wrongly denying information requests and suppressing transparency.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The Karnataka High Court’s order reaffirms India’s commitment to accountability through transparency laws such as the Right to Information (RTI) Act. By designating entities like Nirmithi Kendras as public authorities under this legal framework, it underscores that organizations heavily funded or controlled by governments cannot evade scrutiny or oversight. This ruling can have implications not just for rural housing initiatives but also broader governance practices in similar semi-autonomous bodies that claim private status while receiving public resources. It sends a strong message about prioritizing trust in public institutions while reinforcing citizens’ rights to access critical information.

For more details: Published – August 12, 2025 10:05 pm IST