- (1.) -HEARD learned Counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the State and perused the record.
(2.) THIS writ petition has been filed for quashing of the order dated 15. 11. 2007 passed by Zila Basic Shiksha Adhikari Mau, whereby the petitioner has been directed to furnish information to respondent No. 3 under Right to Information Act and for issuance of a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondents not to compel the petitioner's institution to give information as sought by respondent No. 3.
(3.) THE controversy involved in this writ petition has already been set at rest by this Court by a detailed judgment in Writ Petition No. 4747 of 2008, Dhara Singh Girls High School, Gaushala Road, Ghaziabad through its Manager, Virendra Chaudhary v. State of U. P. and others, decided on 24. 1. 2008, holding that whenever there is even an iota of nexus regarding control and finance of pubic authority over the activity of a private body or institution or an organization etc. the same would fall under the provisions of section 2 (h)of the Act. The provisions of the Act have to be read in consonance and in harmony with its objects and reasons given in the Act which have to be given widest meaning in order to ensure that unscrupulous persons do not get benefits of concealment of their illegal activities or illegal acts by being exempted under the Act and are able to hide nothing from the public. The working of any such organization or institution of any such private body owned or under control of public authority shall be amenable to the Right to Information Act. The petitioner being an institution recognized under the provisions of U. P. High School and Intermediate Education Act, 1929 and receiving grant-in-aid from the State Government is therefore, covered under the aforesaid Act.;