At last long-pending petition of the year 2009 by Supreme Court registry against CIC-verdict after the registry losing at both stages of Delhi High Court has been listed for hearing by the Constitution-bench of the Apex Court on 27.03.2018 to decide if the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India were duty-bound under the RTI Act to give information in response to RTI applications filed by citizens with regard to administration of the top court. Interestingly Supreme Court registry provided information if Supreme Court judges were declaring details of their assets to Chief Justice of India after order of single-judge bench of Delhi high Court. Even Supreme Court judges sue-motto decided disclosure of their assets on website after CIC-verdict was highlighted prominently in the media.
But the Constitution-bench at the same time should also hear other pending petition earlier listed simultaneously before the two-member and three-member benches of the Apex Court challenging CIC-verdicts allowing correspondence of India and appointment of judges at higher courts. Interestingly collegium-proceedings are now started being put on website. Retired Supreme Court judges are now openly discussing their correspondence with Chief Justice of India. Simultaneous hearing will decide WPC 32855 and 32856 of the year 2009.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL