Kerala Government approaches High Court to keep Cabinet decisions confidential

Thiruvananthapuram: The Government has filed a petition before the High Court challenging the order of the State Information Commission directing it to release details of Cabinet decisions taken by the previous government, before it was voted out, this year.

In its petition, the government sought cancellation of the order issued by State Chief Information Commissioner Vinson M. Paul and a declaration that the government is not liable to provide information on Cabinet decisions under the Right to Information Act.

The Commissioner had ordered in an appeal petition filed by D. B. Binu of Human Rights Defence Forum under RTI Act that details of the Cabinet decisions from January 1 to March 12 this year should be provided to the petitioner within 10 days. However, the government did not comply with the order. The Court has now granted an interim stay on the order.

The Commission had also asked the government to seriously consider uploading of Cabinet decisions to the official Website. Though the Chief Secretary issued an order stating that orders issued on the basis of Cabinet decisions should be uploaded to be official Web site immediately with proceedings, this is yet to be given effect to.  Mr. Binu had approached the Commission pointing out the default in this regard.