Kerala SIC Declares Bar Associations as "Public Authorities" under RTI Act

The Kerala State Information Commission (KSIC) ruled that all Bar Associations in Kerala qualify as ‘public authorities’ under Sections 2(h)(c), 2(h)(d), and 2(h)(ii) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

The decision was based on factors like operation under the Advocates Act, 1961, supervision by the Bar Council of India, and the use of government-owned premises without rent, indicating indirect public funding.

The ruling followed a plea by Advocate TK Sathianathan after the Calicut Bar Association's State Public Information Officer (SPIO) failed to respond to his RTI application. 

Referring to the DAV College Trust case, KSIC stressed the need for transparency and initiated interim proceedings under Section 20.