NEW DELHI: In an order that could stir up a debate on whether information of private limited companies can be sought under Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has ordered the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to make public Kalanidhi Maran’s stake in Sun Direct, a direct to home (DTH) television service providing company.
The CIC has also ordered to give details of other stake holders in Sun Direct.
The matter pertains to an RTI application filed by Vinod Jose, a resident of Delhi, with the I&B ministry seeking details of Maran’s and other stake holders’ share in Sun Direct. The public information officer (PIO) refused to provide the information following which Jose filed an appeal with CIC.
The Sun Direct contended that information sought was exempted from disclosure under sections 8 (1) (d) and (j) of the RTI Act and disclosure of the same would harm the commercial interests of the company.