“The formation of opinion under Section 20(2) of the RTI Act (regarding the imposition of penalties) is in the exercise of supervisory powers of CIC and not in the exercise of the adjudicatory powers. This Court is also of the view that the information seeker has no locus standi in penalty proceedings under Section 20 of the RTI Act,” observed a bench presided over by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan.

The Bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, was considering an appeal filed against a decision rendered by a single-judge bench, which had dismissed the plea of the appellant seeking imposition of penalty on the concerned officials for furnishing incorrect replies to his application made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.