Decision dated 03.04.2008 of the High Court of Bombay at Goa in Writ Petition No.419 of 2007 - The definition of information cannot include within its fold answers to the question "why":

No .l / 7/ 2009 - IR

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensioner,

Department  of Personnel & Training .

North Block, New Delhi,

Dated the 20^th  May, 2011.

Subject : Decision dated 03.04.2008 of the High Court of Bombay at Goa in Writ Petition No.419 of 2007 in the case of Dr. Celsa Pinto Vs. Goa State Information Commission regarding information under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

The undersigned is directed to invite attention to this Department's Office Memorandum of even number dated 1^st June, 2009 on the subject mentioned above (copy enclosed) and to say that some persons have observed that the High Court of Bombay at Goa in the above referred case did not use the word 'like' in the Judgment and that inclusion of this word in the O.M. before the word 'why' is creating confusion. It is hereby stated that the word 'like' used before the word 'why' in line 3 of the O.M. may be treated as deleted. The relevant part of the Judgment is again being quoted below :

“The definition of information cannot include within its fold answers to the question "why" which would be same thing as asking the reason for a justification for a particular thing. The public information authorities cannot expect to communicate to the citizen the reason why a certain thing was done or not done in the sense of a justification because the citizen makes a request about information. Justifications are matter within the domain of adjudicating authorities and cannot properly be classified as information”.

2. This may be brought to the notice of all concerned.

(K G Verma)

Director

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