CIC Directs Inquiry Into Leak Of IT Returns To Third Parties [Read Order]

The Central Information Commission on Monday directed the Income Tax Department to investigate into an incident of IT returns of an RTI applicant being released to third parties without his consent.“Keeping in view the facts of the case and the submissions made by both the parties and considering the gravity and seriousness of the issues raised by the Appellant, there is an emergent. The Central Information Commission on Monday directed the Income Tax Department to investigate into an incident of IT returns of an RTI applicant being released to third parties without his consent. It is essential to protect the Confidential Financial Data filed by millions of Tax Payers from falling into wrong hands in the larger public interest,” Information Commissioner Bimal Julka observed. Noting that the IT department, the Supreme Court and various High Courts have often denied disclosure of IT returns, the CIC observed, “The Commission was baffled while considering the facts and circumstances of the present case in as much as in majority of similar subject matters considered by the Commission on a daily basis, the Respondents invariably claimed various exemptions under Section 8 to deny information to information seekers regarding Income Tax Returns of Third Parties.