The Supreme Court today said that the privacy of judges must be respected, while dismissing a Right to Information (RTI) plea seeking that medical expenses of the judges be made public.
Chief Justice H L Dattu said, "Once you give the bills and the list of medicines one can easily make out what type of ailment judge is suffering from. Where does it stop? Please respect the privacy of judges."
RTI activist Subash Chandra Aggarwal had approached the top court after the Delhi High court reversed a decision to make medical expenses of Supreme Court judges public.
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Mr Aggarwal, told the court that the petitioner is interested in only medical expenses for the last three years and every citizen has a right to know how his money is spent.
He also argued that if the court dismisses the petition it will send a wrong message to the common man.