Bajaj Finance Limited v. Reserve Bank Of India & ORS.

$~12 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 4296/2020 BAJAJ FINANCE LIMITED ..... Petitioner Through:

Mr. Ramji Srinivasan, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Rakesh Sinha and Mr. Anand Srivastava, Adv.

versus RESERVE BANK OF INDIA & ORS.

..... Respondents Through:

Ms.

Biji Rajesh, Adv.

for Mr.

Gaurang Kanth, Standing Counsel for CIC/R-5.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A. K. CHAWLA

O R D E R

% 17.07.2020 (Video Conference Hearing) CM APPL. 15458/2020 (Exemption) It is an application seeking exemption from filing original vakalatnama, attested affidavit, court fee etc. Taking note of the prevailing conditions on account of Covid-19 pandemic, the application is granted with the stipulation that the requisite affidavit, court fee and vakalatnama etc. shall be filed within 72 hours of the resumption of regular functioning of the Court(s). The application stands disposed of accordingly. CM APPL. 15457/2020 (Exemption) It is an application seeking exemption from filing fair typed copies of the annexures etc.

Allowed, subject to just exceptions. The application stands disposed of accordingly.

W.P.(C) 4296/2020 & CM APPL. 15456/2020 (stay) The instant writ petition has come to be preferred to assail the

order/letter dated 18.03.2020 issued by the Central Public Information Officer - the respondent no. 2 in view of the fact that the Central Information Commission - the respondent no. 5 on account of COVID-19 is functioning partially through Video Conferencing and that, the appeal preferred by the petitioner before the CIC - the respondent no. 5 is not getting heard. Ms. Rajesh, ld. counsel appearing for the respondent no. 5 on her part submits that in regular course the appeals preferred are being heard at a much later stage but in view of the urgency expressed by the petitioner, she has instructions to state that taking note of the directions given by the Court in W.P. (C) 4003/2020 titled 'Karnataka Bank Limited v. RBI' on 14.07.2020, the CIC - the respondent no.

5 shall make an endeavour to hear the appeal of the petitioner as well within eight weeks from today. In view of the foregoing and the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case, the writ petition and the application are disposed of with a direction that till the first date of effective hearing of the appeal of the petitioner by the CIC - the respondent no. 5, the operation of the impugned letter/order dated 18.03.2020 shall remain stayed. It is made clear that on the appeal being taken up for hearing by the CIC, the CIC shall be at liberty to pass any appropriate orders as may be required on the merit of the petitioner's case. The writ petition and the pending application stand disposed of accordingly.

A. K. CHAWLA, J JULY 17, 2020 acm