New Delhi | Special Correspondent: Deepak Sagar

Even after two decades of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) continues to withhold mandatory public disclosures—prompting the Delhi High Court to issue a sharp rebuke over what it termed blatant disregard for the law.


A Bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia questioned why the civic body has failed to upload legislative records, House proceedings and resolutions on its official website, despite clear statutory obligations.


RTI Act Mandates Proactive Disclosure
The court underlined that Section 4 of the RTI Act obligates public authorities to voluntarily place key information in the public domain, reducing the need for citizens to file RTI applications in the first place.


“If information is disclosed proactively, citizens would not need to knock on the doors of public authorities through RTI applications,” the Bench observed.


The judges added sternly that non-compliance with the law has consequences, and the MCD must now be prepared to answer for its inaction.


PIL Exposes Gaps in Transparency


The observations came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Centre for Youth, Culture, Law and Environment, which sought directions to ensure that:
Legislative records
Standing committee decisions
Other public documents
are regularly and timely uploaded on the MCD website.


Court Rejects Administrative Excuses
Arguing for the MCD, counsel submitted that the merger of three erstwhile municipal bodies had delayed website updates. The High Court, however, flatly rejected the explanation, asserting that:
“Administrative excuses cannot override statutory mandates.”
Affidavit Sought, Accountability Demanded


The court has now directed the MCD to file an affidavit, detailing:
Steps already taken to comply with the RTI Act
A concrete action plan for full implementation of proactive disclosures
The matter has been listed for further hearing, with the court signalling close monitoring.


A Win for Citizens’ Right to Know
Legal experts and transparency advocates see the ruling as a major victory for citizens’ right to information, reinforcing the principles of accountability, openness and democratic governance in the functioning of civic bodies.
The High Court’s stern stance sends a clear message: transparency is not optional—it is the law.