J&K Govt Rejects Appeal, Maintains Denial of Information on Reservation Report
Srinagar, Sep 10: The Jammu and Kashmir government has upheld its decision to deny information regarding the cabinet sub-committee’s report on reservation, dismissing an appeal filed against the earlier order of the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO).
The First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs confirmed the CPIO’s decision, citing judgments of the Supreme Court, High Court, and the Central Information Commission.
The appeal was filed by Sheikh Mohammed Imran, a leader of the Peoples Conference, who had sought details under the RTI Act. The CPIO had denied the request on August 5, 2024, invoking provisions of the Act.
“The disposal of the RTI application by the CPIO vide order dated 05.08.2025 is well founded and well-reasoned and is in consonance with the provisions of the RTI Act. As such, the appeal is dismissed,” the FAA order reads.
It clarified that under Section 8(1)(i) of the RTI Act, cabinet papers can be disclosed only after decision is finalized, while deliberations of the cabinet sub-committee are still ongoing.
“Status updates and timelines form part of cabinet papers as they are integral to the deliberative process,” the order noted, adding that disclosure could expose sensitive timelines and risk interference.
The FAA further said that the term “under examination” indicates documents are still under vetting, and statutory confidentiality must be maintained until a final decision is notified.
