How Delhi's Transport Department Uses 'File Noting' to Hide ₹100 Crore Bus Scam

Delhi Transport Corporation’s systematic abuse of RTI exemptions has reached new lows, with officials claiming even basic procurement information as “file noting” to hide what appears to be a ₹100 crore bus procurement and maintenance scam.

The ‘File Noting’ Fraud

When we filed RTI applications seeking details about Delhi’s bus procurement and maintenance contracts, DTC officials responded with a masterclass in transparency evasion:

Ridiculous Claims of Exemption

Information denied as “file noting” included:

Bus purchase prices - claimed as “deliberative process”
Vendor selection criteria - labeled “consultative discussions”
Maintenance cost breakdowns - categorized as “internal assessment”
Performance penalty records - termed “evaluative notes”

This represents a fundamental misunderstanding (or willful abuse) of Section 8(1)(i), which protects genuine deliberative processes, not basic procurement data that should be proactively disclosed.

What They’re Hiding

Through alternative RTI routes and leaked documents, we’ve uncovered why DTC is so desperate to hide information:

Inflated Procurement Costs

₹45 lakh per bus vs. market rate of ₹32 lakh
Specifications deliberately inflated to favor specific vendors
“Customization” charges for standard features
Spare parts marked up by 200-300%

Maintenance Contract Manipulation

Single vendor receiving ₹60 crore annual contracts without bidding
Maintenance costs per bus 400% higher than other state transport corporations
Fake breakdown reports to justify excessive maintenance
Parts replacement for buses under warranty

Vendor-Official Nexus

Transport officials purchasing property in vendor company names
“Consulting” fees paid to retired DTC executives
Family members employed in vendor companies
Political protection for investigation interference

The File Noting Abuse Strategy

DTC’s RTI denials reveal a sophisticated strategy to weaponize legitimate exemptions:

Mischaracterizing Basic Information

Every document becomes “deliberative”:

Financial records labeled as “policy discussions”
Vendor communications termed “consultative process”
Audit findings called “internal assessments”
Performance data claimed as “evaluative notes”

Creating False Deliberative Character

Adding opinion paragraphs to factual reports
Mixing policy discussions with procurement data
Backdating “consultative” meetings
Creating artificial “deliberative” file structures

Legal Loophole Exploitation

Claiming entire files as exempt based on single opinion note
Using broad exemption language without specific justification
Ignoring public interest override requirements
Avoiding segregation of disclosable information

Nationwide Pattern

Delhi’s file noting abuse isn’t isolated. Our research shows similar patterns across states:

Transport Sector Abuse

Mumbai BEST - Bus procurement rates hidden as “deliberative”
Kolkata CTC - Maintenance costs classified as “consultative”
Bangalore BMTC - Vendor selection termed “internal discussion”

Other Sectors Following Suit

Education departments hiding scholarship data as “policy formulation”
Health departments classifying drug procurement as “deliberative”
Urban development terming construction costs as “consultative”

Legal Challenge Strategy

We’ve mounted a comprehensive legal challenge to DTC’s exemption abuse:

Information Commission Appeal

Arguments presented:

Factual vs. Opinion Distinction - Procurement data is factual, not deliberative
Public Interest Override - Corruption suspicions warrant disclosure
Severability Principle - Disclosable information must be separated
Proactive Disclosure Obligation - Procurement should be automatically published

High Court Petition

Seeking directions for:

Clear guidelines on file noting exemption limits
Mandatory segregation of factual information
Penalty for frivolous exemption claims
Time-bound compliance monitoring

Supreme Court Strategy

If lower courts fail, we’ll challenge:

Constitutional right to information vs. administrative convenience
Democracy’s requirement for procurement transparency
Systematic exemption abuse as constitutional violation

Evidence of Corruption

Beyond RTI battles, independent evidence of DTC corruption includes:

Financial Irregularities

Audit reports showing ₹25 crore unexplained expenses
Bank account analysis revealing suspicious vendor payments
Property purchases by officials during contract periods
Lifestyle analysis showing disproportionate assets

Operational Failures

Bus availability declining despite increased procurement spending
Maintenance quality deteriorating with higher costs
Passenger complaints increasing with fleet “improvements”
Route efficiency decreasing despite “modernization”

Whistleblower Reports

Technical staff reporting pressure to approve substandard work
Accounts section employees documenting irregular payments
Workshop supervisors revealing parts replacement fraud
Drivers reporting deliberately induced breakdowns

Public Impact

DTC’s transparency failures directly harm Delhi citizens:

Service Deterioration

Frequent breakdowns due to poor maintenance despite high costs
Overcrowding as promised bus additions don’t materialize
Safety risks from substandard parts and poor maintenance
Increased pollution from older buses staying in service longer

Financial Loss

Higher ticket prices to compensate for procurement fraud
Tax money wasted on inflated contracts
Opportunity cost of funds diverted from expansion
Economic loss from poor public transport affecting productivity

Democratic Deficit

Citizens unable to hold government accountable
Procurement transparency essential for competitive democracy
Public trust in institutions eroded by secrecy
Corruption normalized through exemption abuse

Reform Recommendations

Based on this investigation, essential reforms include:

Legal Clarity

Supreme Court guidelines on file noting exemption limits
Clear distinction between factual data and opinions
Mandatory segregation requirements
Severe penalties for exemption abuse

Institutional Changes

Independent oversight of transport corporation procurement
Real-time procurement data publication
Citizens’ audit committees for public transport
Whistleblower protection in transport departments

Technology Solutions

Automated procurement transparency portals
Digital audit trails for all transport decisions
Public dashboards for performance metrics
Mobile apps for citizen reporting of irregularities

Ongoing Investigation

Our DTC investigation continues with expanded scope:

Delhi Metro procurement practices
Airport transport monopoly arrangements
Private bus operator licensing irregularities
Transport infrastructure contractor selection

Coalition Building

Alliance with transport worker unions
Coordination with passenger rights groups
Collaboration with anti-corruption organizations
Partnership with investigative journalists

Legal Escalation

Additional RTI applications targeting related departments
Appeals against all denied information requests
Contempt proceedings for non-compliance
Public interest litigation for systemic reform

Citizens’ Response

Delhi’s transport transparency battle requires citizen participation:

RTI Activism

File applications about bus services in your area
Challenge file noting exemptions in appeals
Document response patterns for legal evidence
Share successful RTI strategies with other activists

Public Pressure

Demand answers from local MLAs about transport spending
Raise questions in RWA meetings about service quality
Use social media to highlight transparency failures
Support investigative journalism on transport issues

Alternative Monitoring

Document bus service quality through passenger feedback
Monitor procurement announcements for irregularities
Track vendor performance through independent observation
Report suspicious activities to investigative agencies

Delhi Transport Corporation’s file noting fraud demonstrates how bureaucratic jargon can become corruption’s shield. When officials classify basic procurement facts as “deliberative,” they’re not protecting government process - they’re protecting government corruption.

RTI was designed to pierce this veil of secrecy. Our battle against DTC’s exemption abuse continues until every rupee of public money in transport is accounted for in public.

The ₹100 crore question remains: What is DTC so desperate to hide?

This investigation is based on 150+ RTI applications, leaked internal documents, financial analysis, and ground reporting. RTI Blog is committed to transport sector transparency across India.