Court backs RTI disclosure of Ameenee Magu redevelopment deal
The High Court on Monday upheld the ICOM's decision in the case.
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By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
High Court on Monday ruled that the Information Commissioner's Office (ICOM) had directed the housing ministry rightfully, by instructing the ministry to share the information with an individual disclosing the agreement and design for the construction of Ameenee Magu.
An individual under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has requested the ministry for a detailed drawing of the agreement and details of the Ameenee Magu redevelopment, which is being done by the government by handing it over to the RDC. However, the ministry refused to share the information.
The housing ministry then approached the High Court, saying that ICOM had asked the ministry to provide the information, claiming it was illegal.
The ministry's information officer refuses to disclose which exemption to the Right to Information (RTI) Act fits in their refusal to reveal the requested information.
The High Court on Monday upheld the ICOM's decision in the case. The high court said there was no legal reason for the ministry to refuse to disclose the information.
"The ministry's information officer refuses to disclose which exemption to the Right to Information (RTI) Act fits in their refusal to reveal the requested information," the high court said.
The High Court in its judgment said:
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The Housing Ministry refused to disclose the information on the grounds that disclosing the information would affect the financial interests of a third party
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The third party, the RDC, is a state agency
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When a third party is interpreted under the law, the law says that state agencies will not be included in it
"We have held that there is no legal reason to set aside [ICOM's decision] as the previous statements are different," the high court said.
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