KPSC Candidates Can Seek Own Evaluated Answer Scripts Under RTI : Karnataka HC [Read Judgment]

The Karnataka High Court has held that a candidate who has appeared for examination conducted by a public service commission can seek for copies of his own evaluated answer scripts, along with the marks allotted to each question under the Right to Information Act. Justice Suraj Govindaraj while partly allowing the petition filed by Karnataka Public Service Commission challenging the decision of the Karnataka Information Commissioner said "An applicant cannot seek for copies of evaluated answer scripts of any other person apart from himself/herself." The court also held that "The Information Commission - State or Central has no power to remove or dismiss a public Information Officer already appointed by any public Authority for that organization." #On June 18, the KIC passed the following order: KIC by quoting Section 19 of the RTI Act has appointed the Controller of Examinations, KPSC as Public Information Officer and Secretary KPSC as the First Appellate Authority. On perusal of Section 19 the court held "In terms of Section 19, it is only a direction that could be issued by the Central Information Commission or by the State Information Commission as the Case may be requiring the Public Authority to appoint a Public Information Officer if no such person has already been appointed.