Synopsis
The Central Information Commission has upheld the denial of exporter-wise details for limestone sold to Bangladesh. This information is protected under the commercial confidence clause. The commission stated that releasing such data could harm exporters’ competitive positions. No overriding public interest was found to justify disclosure.
IANS New Delhi, The Central Information Commission has upheld the denial of exporter-wise details of limestone sold to Bangladesh from Meghalaya, noting that the data attracts exemption under the commercial confidence clause.
It said such information could potentially harm the competitive position of the exporters concerned.
The transparency panel also noted that there was no larger public interest involved, which could override Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, which exempts disclosure of information that could harm the competitive position of third parties.
RTI applicant W Mathew Mawdkhap had sought “the name and address of the exporters who exported limestone to Bangladesh through Bholaganj Land Customs Station, E Khasi Hills, during the financial year 2023-24” from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Shillong Customs Division, which was denied, citing Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act.
His first appeal was also dismissed, following which he approached the Central Information Commission (CIC) with his second appeal and challenged the first two orders.
Dismissing his appeal, Information Commissioner Vinod Kumar Tiwari said details sought were related to the names and addresses of exporters and the quantity of limestone exported to Bangladesh during the financial year 2023-24.
Such exporter-wise trade data, the Commission held, “constitutes commercial information that is ordinarily treated as confidential with
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