Supreme Court Denies Anticipatory Bail to RTI Activists
On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to grant anticipatory bail to two individuals from Punjab who claimed to be Right to Information (RTI) activists. The court criticized their actions, stating that RTI activism has turned into a “new business.” This remark came as the court reviewed their disruptive behavior concerning a road construction project, which they alleged was corrupt.
Justices Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi, who were presiding over the case, questioned the judgment of the defendants. “You cannot block people from working and hinder public servants from doing their jobs. Who are you to oversee the progress of this road? Are you engineers, or authorized representatives? You are just self-proclaimed RTI activists,” they remarked.
The accused, Ramesh Kumar Behl and his associate, faced serious charges for allegedly obstructing construction work and assaulting laborers with derogatory comments based on their caste. The court characterized their actions as “yellow journalism” and emphasized that the central government was responsible for supervising the use of allocated funds—amounting to ₹57 crore for the road project in Batala.
Defense attorney Dinesh Mahajan argued that the charges were aimed at shielding corrupt contractors and officials, claiming that prior complaints raised by Behl revealed mismanagement. However, the judges dismissed this argument, highlighting the substantial evidence against the accused.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court previously denied the duo anticipatory bail on May 14, noting the serious allegations including physical intimidation and the seizure of government documents. The High Court emphasized the necessity of custodial interrogation and deemed that no grounds were present for granting bail.
As the legal proceedings continue, the Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the need for responsible activism and adherence to lawful conduct.
