BEFORE THE APPELLATE AUTHORITY

(Under the Right to Information Act, 2005)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA
Appeal No. 2101 of 2015
Arul Selvan

Appellant

Vs.
CPIO, SEBI, Mumbai

Respondent

ORDER
1.

The appellant had filed an application dated January 22, 2015, under the Right to Information
Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as "RTI Act"). The respondent vide letter dated January 28,
2015, responded to the appellant. The appellant has filed this appeal dated February 18, 2015
(received at SEBI on February 24, 2015), against the said response. I have carefully considered
the application, the response and the appeal and find that the matter can be decided based on
the material available on record.

2.

From the appeal, I note that the appellant is aggrieved by the respondent's response to his
application wherein he had raised the following queries, viz.

i.

"There is a notice outside SEBI Bhavan which says that photography is prohibited?
Is there a rule which actually prohibits photography? Under what Act(s), has this rule been made?...

ii.
iii.
iv.

If such a rule exists, when was the rule made?

If such a rule exists, what are the consequences of violating the rule?
If such a rule exists, are there any specific instructions that have been given to the security guards to enforce
them?

v.

If such a rule exists, how many violations have taken place in the last 5 years (or since the rule has been
made, whichever is longer)?
If such a rule exists, how many civil/criminal prosecutions have been initiated? How many such cases are
pending? How many of such cases have resulted in convictions?"

vi.

3.

In this appeal, the appellant has inter alia submitted: " there is not even a single law in our country,
which is aimed at the general public and at the same time kept as a secret from the very public who are supposed
to be following it. "

4.

In his response, I note that the respondent informed the appellant that reply to the
abovementioned queries of his application were earlier provided vide respondent's letter no.
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CPIO/AKS/SB/10072014/33475 dated November 26, 2014. In that reply dated November

26, 2014, I note that the respondent informed the appellant that information sought by him
pertained to overall security plan of SEBI and was therefore, exempted from disclosure under
Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act. In this context, I note that disclosure of the requested
information, which is internal to SEBI, may affect the security strategy of the organization and
may be detrimental to its security interests. In view of the aforesaid, I find no deficiency in the
respondent's response to the appellant.
5.

I, therefore, find that there is no need to interfere with the decision of the respondent. The
appeal is accordingly dismissed.

Place: Mumbai
Date: March 19, 2015

S. RAMAN
APPELLATE AUTHORITY
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA

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