New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday made a significant observation while denying bail to Right to Information (RTI) activist Rakesh Kumar Behl and his aide, who have been accused of obstructing a public servant in road construction work.
Delivering their verdict, a bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi questioned the authority of the accused to monitor the work, and said RTI activism has become a new business, reported PTI.
“RTI activism has become a new business. The Central government has issued funds, it will take care of the construction of the road. Yo
u are nobody. So-called RTI activist! Yellow journalism. Dismissed,” Justice Mehta said.
Justice Bishnoi said, “Who are you to monitor the construction of all these roads? Are you some superior authority or what?”
Behl challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order denying him anticipatory bail.
Behl’s counsel contended that they had been falsely implicated in the case because they highlighted the corruption involved in the road construction work.
According to the FIR, Behl and Rajiv Kumar alias Mintu allegedly obstructed the ongoing road construction work at Batala in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, and also intimidated the complainant, under whose supervision the work was being executed, and the labourers present at the site.
They also allegedly made derogatory comments against the labourer and inflicted injuries on the complainant.
Police booked the duo under Sections 304, 132, 221, 121, 351, 351, of BNS, 2023 , 121 of the BNS, 2023 and Section 3 of the SC/ST Act.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court said in its May 14 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.