Show cause notice to the Bar Council of India for vague and evasive reply

Through four different RTI applications, the complainant sought different information from Bar Council of India such as the Audited accounts of the last 5 years of BCI, Compliance of section 4(1) of the RTI Act, the minutes of meeting of the Trustees, copy of the Income/Expenditure & Balance sheet, copy of the Bar Council of India Pearl Trust, Copies of the inspection report, Minutes of the meeting of the Legal Education Committee of the Bar Council of India etc. The CIC noted the vague reply and delay in responding to the RTI application and directed the PIO to submit a suitable explanation as to why no action should be initiated for the variations in their stance. In the other complaint, a notice was issued why action should be initiated for the vague and evasive reply which has not even been submitted before the CIC. Further in another complaint, the CIC issued a show cause notice Mr. Anil Kumar, PIO, BCI why penalty should not be levied upon him under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act for not furnishing any response.

Comments

The Bar Council of India (BCI) is a statutory body established by the Parliament under the Advocates Act, 1961 to regulate and represent the Indian Bar. The BCI prescribes the standards of professional conduct and etiquettes and also set standards for legal education. If such a premier body fumbles in implementing section 4 of the RTI Act and is served a SCN for imposing penalty, the legal profession is in for a rude shock.

Citation: Girish Mittal v. Bar Council of India, CIC/BCOIN/A/2024/645329 + /652361 + /652362 + /652360: Date of Decision: 08.12.2025

Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com