A division bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and Vipin Sanghi directed the central government that information on asset liabilities of spouses or dependent children will not be revealed to the public by government departments. It said such information will only be furnished to respective departments in a sealed cover.
The court was hearing a plea by Vinita Singla, wife of a public servant and working in a major IT company ofIndia, who opposed the Lokapal provisions contending that they were violative of her Fundamental Rights.
The court also said that till its further orders in November, the sealed envelopes reaching all departments shouldn’t be opened.
Singla submitted that if independent liabilities of thespouse and or the dependent children, which have no relation with the public servant, are disclosed on government website, they will “cause prejudice and humiliation before the public at large”.
“Prima facie, there is merit in the petitioner’s contention. She is a private citizen and declaration of her assets is violation of the Article 21 of the Constitution.
The stayed order comes as a huge relief to harried bureaucrats and central government employees forced under the Lokpal Act to file declarations of their assets and liabilities and those of their spouses and dependent children.
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