RTI Activism Has Become New Business, Says Supreme Court, Asks Petitioner if He is 'Superior Authority'

New Delhi: While denying bail to a Right to Information (RTI) activist, the Supreme Court on Monday (June 15) orally remarked that RTI activism has become a new business.

A bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi made the remarks while denying bail to RTI activist Rakesh Kumar Behl.

“RTI activism has become a new business. The central government has issued funds, it will take care of the construction of road. You are nobody. So-called RTI activist! Yellow journalism. Dismissed," observed Justice Mehta, reported The Hindu.

As per the prosecution, the petitioner, along with another accused allegedly obstructed the ongoing road construction work and also allegedly intimated the complainant under whose supervision the work was being executed and the labourers present at the site, reported LiveLaw.

The petitioner is also accused to have inflicted blows on the complainant while another accused kicked him. The prosecution also alleged that they made caste-based derogatory remarks against the labourers and subsequently.

"Who are you to monitor the construction all these road progress or all? Are you some superior authority?" remarked Justice Mehta.

Earlier on May 14, the Punjab and Haryana high court had said in its order that the allegations levelled in the FIR disclose specific and direct involvement in obstructing the government work and refused to grant them anticipatory bail, reported.

The counsel for the petitioner had said that they had been falsely implicated in the case as they had highlighted the corruption involved in the road construction work.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.