Kerala High Court Strikes Down 20-Page Cap On Free RTI Information For Below Poverty Line Applicants As Ultra Vires RTI Act

The Kerala High Court has struck down proviso to Rule 4(4) of the Kerala Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2006, which restrict free supply of information under RTI Act to persons below the poverty line (BPL) to twenty pages. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 355]Justice Mohammed Nias C.P. found that the proviso to the afore Rule, requiring payment for information above 20...

Karnataka High Court Upholds Penalty Under RTI Act, Says Successor Officer Can't Blame Predecessor For Pending Matters

The Karnataka High Court has recently dismissed a plea by the Secretary of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), challenging the imposition of a Rs 25,000 penalty and directions for disciplinary proceedings against him by the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) for failure to furnish information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act,...

P&H High Court Holds Chandigarh Golf Club Falls Within RTI Act, Cites Indirect Substantial Govt Financing

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chandigarh Golf Club to put in place a mechanism to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) Act within a month. [2026 LiveLaw (PH) 203]The Court dismissed its plea against a 2012 Central Information Commission (CIC) order that declared it a “public authority”.Justice Kuldeep Tiwari said, "Enough...

Lokayukta Special Police Not 'Intelligence & Security Organisation' Exempt From RTI Act : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Madhya Pradesh High Court direction requiring the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of the Lokayukta Organisation to disclose information sought under the Right to Information Act, while striking down a 2011 State Government notification that exempted the SPE from the RTI regime. A Bench of Justice J.K....

Civil Service Exam : CIC Questions UPSC, DoPT Decision To Discontinue Publishing Of Paper-Wise Marks Of Successful Candidates

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has criticized the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) over their “contradictory stances” regarding disclosure of paper-wise marks of successful Civil Services Examination (CSE) candidates, observing that the rationale for discontinuing the practice...

Jharkhand RTI Row: Appointment Process Contravenes Section 15(6) And Dilutes Legislative Intent

On 29 January 2026, the State of Jharkhand informed the Jharkhand High Court that the State Information Commission, which has remained non-functional due to the non-appointment of its Chairperson and Members, would be made functional within four weeks. A Division Bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai was hearing...

BCCI Not A 'Public Authority', Not Subject To RTI Act: Central Information Commission

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has held that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not a “public authority” under the Right to Information Act, 2005, and therefore cannot be compelled to disclose information under the transparency law.Information Commissioner P R Ramesh passed the order while dismissing a second appeal filed...

Govt Employee Entitled To Seek Own ACR Under RTI, State Cannot Deny Information On Privacy Grounds: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that an employee is entitled to seek copies of their own Annual Confidential Reports under the Right to Information Act, if no other alternative remedy is left and the State cannot deny such information by invoking the privacy exemption under the Act. The bench of Justice Deepak Khot observed; "the applicant...

Wife Can't Seek Husband's Income Tax Details Under RTI Act To Support Maintenance Claim: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that income tax details of a husband cannot be disclosed under the Right to Information Act, 2005 in relation to the matrimonial disputes with the wife. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that such information does not fall under the exception of “larger public interest” under the enactment. The Court made the...

Service Records Are Personal Information, Exempted From Disclosure Under RTI Act: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that a service record constitutes personal information exempted from disclosure under the Right to Information Act. The Court observed that such information cannot be directed to be disclosed unless the authority records satisfaction that a larger public interest warrants such disclosure.Justice Abasaheb D. Shinde was...

Patna High Court Defers Hearing Plea On RTI Pendency In Bihar, Cites Ongoing SC Proceedings

The Patna High Court has deferred hearing in a Public Interest Litigation seeking directions to clear the massive pendency of RTI applications and appeals in Bihar, noting that the issue is presently under consideration before the Supreme Court.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Harish Kumar was hearing a PIL...

Policy Number Not Mandatory For Seeking LIC Details Under RTI Act, But Basic Identifying Details Required: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that while an individual can seek details of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) policies under the Right to Information (RTI) Act without furnishing the policy number, such requests must be supported by basic identifying particulars to enable retrieval of information.A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar...