Sucheta Dalal :Another ‘private’ body comes under RTI Act
Sucheta Dalal

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Another ‘private’ body comes under RTI Act  

April 20, 2010

In yet another case of the judiciary cracking the whip on ‘private’ bodies, the Madras High Court has ruled that the New Tiruppur Area Development Corporation Limited (NTADCL) is a public authority in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act as it undertakes projects on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.

 

Moneylife had earlier reported on the Delhi High Court decision on the National Stock Exchange (NSE)—(see here: http://www.moneylife.in/article/8/4853.html), which has brought the bourse under the ambit of the RTI Act.


In a case filed by Manthan Adhyayan Kendra (MAK), an entity involved in research on water and energy issues, the Madras High Court on 6 April 2010 ruled that NTADCL is a public authority and will have to provide the information requested under the RTI Act.

 

NTADCL, under concession from the Tamil Nadu government and the Tiruppur Municipality (TM), operates the Tiruppur Project. The Tamil Nadu government had privatised the water supply to Tiruppur Industrial Estate, TM and a number of neighbouring villages under the Tiruppur Project. This is one of the largest privatised water supply projects in India.

MAK had requested some information from NTADCL under the RTI Act, which it had refused stating that it is not a “public authority.”

 

Following this, MAK had moved the Madras High Court with the contention that NTADCL is a public authority and should provide information under the RTI Act.

 

The court upheld that the water supply company was a public authority for two reasons—one, that this PPP project has support from the government including funds and guarantees, so it has to be open to the RTI Act. Second, that NTADCL was delivering a public service—water and sewerage—and therefore has to be accountable under the Act. A press release on MAK’s website stated that it is likely that NTADCL will go in for further appeal.

 

However, if the Supreme Court upholds the Madras High Court decision, it would be a significant ruling, given that a number of private players are developing PPP projects across sectors in India. The ruling may open up more PPP project-based private companies to public scrutiny. — Moneylife Digital Team


-- Sucheta Dalal