Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: After a prolonged legal battle spanning 15 years, Saint Joseph College (Khunti) has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Jharkhand State Information Commission’s 2016 directive to disclose financial documents under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The case centers on the refusal to provide audit reports and utility certificates to Professor Akshya Kumar Rai.
Background of the Dispute
In 2016, Prof. Rai filed an RTI request seeking four key pieces of information:
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Audit reports from FY 2011–2015
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Utility certificates for grants used
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Minutes of Governing Body meetings during that period
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Documents detailing government grant usage and the rationale for not spending on government-appointed faculty
The college denied the request, citing its status as a minority institution and claiming the information was confidential and exempt under RTI provisions.
Information Commission’s Ruling and High Court Battles
The State Information Commission ruled in Prof. Rai’s favor in September 2016, ordering the college to furnish all requested information. The college then challenged this decision in the Jharkhand High Court, initiating a legal contest that continued for nearly a decade.
In May 2024, Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary upheld the commission’s decision. Unrelenting, the college filed a Letters Patent Appeal (LPA), which was also dismissed in 2025 by a bench comprising Justices Sujit Narayan and Rajesh Kumar, who stated that due to the substantial government funding, the college falls within the ambit of the RTI Act.
Supreme Court Appeal Filed
Now in 2026, the college has escalated the matter to the Supreme Court. While the appeal has been admitted, the apex court has yet to schedule a hearing.
