Supreme Court: RTI Activism Now a Business, Rejects Bail Plea of

The Supreme Court has stated that RTI activism has turned into a business, as it rejected the anticipatory bail plea of RTI activists Rakesh Behl and Rajiv Kumar. The duo is accused of obstructing road construction work in Gurdaspur, Punjab. According to the FIR, they allegedly intimidated workers and supervisors at the construction site. The case was heard on Monday by a bench comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi. Justice Bishnoi questioned the authority of the activists, asking, "Who are you to oversee the construction of these roads? What authority do you have? Who granted you these rights?"

Earlier, the Punjab-Haryana High Court had denied anticipatory bail to the two activists on May 14. RTI activism, which involves using the Right to Information Act to bring transparency in government operations and expose corruption, has seen misuse in some cases, with individuals reportedly using it to intimidate or blackmail officials.

Separately, the Supreme Court had commented on May 5 that Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has increasingly become a tool for private, publicity, monetary, and political interests rather than serving public welfare. The court criticized the misuse of legal processes in a 2006 PIL filed by the Indian Young Lawyers Association challenging restrictions on women’s entry into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.

Key Points
- Supreme Court rejected anticipatory bail plea of RTI activists Rakesh Behl and Rajiv Kumar.
- Both accused of obstructing road construction in Gurdaspur, Punjab.
- Justice Bishnoi questioned the activists' authority to oversee construction.
- Punjab-Haryana High Court had earlier denied bail on May 14.
- Supreme Court highlighted misuse of PILs for private and political interests.