Former MLA denied MoU info under RTI

AHMEDABAD: Central Information Commission (CIC) has disposed of an appeal of former Bhavnagar MLA Mahendra Trivedi seeking information about an MoU between State Trading Corporation (STC) and Samraj Exim India Private Limited, Mumbai under Right to Information (RTI) Act saying he is not entitled to it.
Trivedi had, in January last year, sought information from Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of STC.CPIO rejected the request stating that it related to a third party and is of commercial confidence. STCs appellate authority deciding on Trivedis appeal asked CPIO to check with Samraj Exim if they had any objection to give this information to a third party.
Samraj Exim informed STC that information cant be provided to Arun Garg of Garg Cast Steel of Bhavnagar as he has filed FIR and the case is also before Supreme Court and matter is sub judice. CPIO hence did not provide any information to Trivedi who was representing Garg Cast Steel.
Appearing before CIC, CPIO of STC indicated that they have entered into some agreement with Samraj Exim on export of iron ore. As entire money could not be recovered by STC they encashed guarantee provided by third party on behalf of Samraj Exim.CIC held that as far as RTI is concerned if some party had given some guarantee then he is entitled to get all information from public authority. But in this case Trivedi may be representing guarantor but is not strictly a guarantor so he is not entitled for any information.
Disposing of Trivedis appeal Information Commissioner Padma Balasubramanian ruled, "since he is neither guarantor nor party against whom MOU has been entered, he is not entitled to get this information."