In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the Chief Information Commissioner's (CIC) power to frame the Management Regulations, 2007, including provisions for constituting benches of the Commission. The Court reversed the Delhi High Court's judgment which had quashed the Regulations on the ground that the RTI Act lacked explicit provisions for benches. The Court held that Section 12(4) of the RTI Act, granting the CIC 'general superintendence, direction, and management' of its affairs, implicitly includes authority to constitute benches and frame internal management regulations. Adopting purposive interpretation aligned with the RTI Act's transparency objectives, the Court emphasized that administrative bodies must function independently without undue external interference. The ability to form benches is essential for efficient case disposition and upholding citizens' right to information.
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