Rejection of Sree Avittom Thirnal Hospital Health Education Society (Sathhes) that it did not fall under the law on the right to information (RTI), the State Information Commission on Thursday issued instructions to immediately appoint a state public information clerk (SPIO) in the institution.
The order was issued by the State Commissioner Sreekumar M. Based on the appeal submitted by Thiruvananthapuram Sindhu S. In her request for RTI, she was looking for detailed information on the remuneration of paid employees of Sathhes in January 2017 and September 2021, including addresses, amounts and payment data.
The company’s administration originally denied the application and stated that Sathhes does not fall under the ambition of the law of RTI. This was repeated by the appellate body. However, the Commission decided otherwise after a recent meeting.
Linked to the government.
The order states that while Sathhes is registered under the Travancore Registration Act – Cochin Literary, Scientific, Cultural and Charity Society of 1955, its executive and administrative structure is connected with the state government. The Executive Board and the institution management body consists of government officials, including the director of Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College, Superintendent Sree Avittom Thirune Hospital and officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Care.
The Commission also noted that the company operates from government premises without paying rent and is managed by government employees. As a result, the argument that Sathhes is not a public institution cannot be accepted because it works under a direct control of the state government. As a result, the company was obliged to publish information under the law of RTI, the order said.
Published – 6 June 2025 20:39
