This commission maintains that as far as the date and the method of the approval of the requested information about “the draft rules framed by the Chairman Federal Public Service Commission for CSS Examination” is concerned, this requested information is also available with the Cabinet Division in the shape of minutes of the meeting.
It is important to highlight that the minutes of official meetings are exempted from disclosure under Section 7 (b) only if final decision has not been taken on the issue being deliberated upon in official meetings. Once final decision has been taken, minutes of meetings become public documents, unless hit by any of the exemption clause of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 which is not the case in the instant Appeal.
The Public Information Officer, Cabinet Division and Public Information Officers, Establishment Division are directed to share with the Appellant following information within 7 working days of the receipt of this Order:
- Date on which were “draft rules framed by the Chairman Federal Public Service Commission for CSS Examination Which were subsequently notified by FPSC vide S.R.O. No. 1452 (i)/2018 Dated 27-11-2-2018, were received in Cabinet Division;
- Minutes of the meeting indicating the date and approval of “draft rules framed by the Chairman Federal Public Service Commission for CSS Examination Which were subsequently notified by FPSC vide S.R.O. No. 1452 (i)/2018 Dated 27-11-2-2018 along with the summary moved for the approval of these rules. (Minutes of meeting containing any unrelated matter be blanked out); and
- Certified copy of correspondence indicating the date on which approval of the cabinet for aforesaid rules was conveyed to the chairman, FPSC