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2020 ] TIT-BITS A113

“While the outfit is not registered, we are probing the accounts of Saad,
other members and the outfit to see if there is any tax evasion. The source of their
funding will be tallied with the accounts of the depositors to probe if there are
any discrepancies,” said an official familair with the matter.
[Source : The Economic Times, New Delhi, dated 17-4-2020]

Lavasa dissent : CIC junks plea against EC for refusing info
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has disposed of an appeal
against refusal of the poll watchdog to furnish information sought by an RTI
applicant regarding dissent expressed by Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa
over clean chits given by EC in model code violation complaints filed against PM
Narendra Modi and then BJP President Amit Shah during the 2019 Lok Sabha
poll campaign.
The EC had argued that in view of the provisions of the law as also the
confidentiality of the discussions held in the ECI, further details could not be
furnished. On being queried by the CIC, if a similar reply could be provided to
the Parliament, the EC replied in the affirmative.
The same stand was taken at subsequent levels of appeal. The CIC finally
heard the appeal via video-conference.
The Commission was in receipt of a written submission from the EC
wherein while reiterating the contents of the RTI application, reply/order of the
CPIO/FAA, it was submitted that the information applied for contains extensive
references to inputs received by the ECI from field officers, including the identity
of such officers. Any disclosure of the information posed a certain risk to the
safety of such officers. Secondly, the information sought for by the appellant and
the inputs relied therein is in aid of law enforcement which is confidential in
nature.
Citing the reference made by Supreme Court in CBSE v. Aditya Ban-
dopadhyay and Ors., it was held as under “information as to the names or particu-
lars of the examiners/coordinators/scrutinisers/head examiners are exempted
from disclosure..., on the ground that it may endanger their physical safety.
Therefore, if the examinees are to be given access to evaluated answer-books...,
such access will have to be given only to that part of the answer-book which does
not contain any information or signature of the examiners/coordinators/
scrutinisers/head examiners, exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(g) of
RTI Act.”
[Source : The Times of India, New Delhi, dated 20-4-2020]

Hope shipping rules extended to minor ports
The Government has come up with more measures to make life easier for
exporters and importers during the lockdown period.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) had issued an advisory on
March 29 asking shipping lines not to impose container detention charges or any
new or additional charges for the lockdown period from March 22 to April 14
over and above the agreed free time availed of as part of negotiated contractual
terms. Two days later, the DGS directed all the major ports to consider exemp-
EXCISE LAW TIMES  1st May 2020  55