RTI Applicant Not Conversant With Language Of Info Can't Be Accompanied By 'Third Party' To Inspect Records: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court recently observed that if an RTI applicant seeking certain information is not conversant with the language or the contents of the information sought, then permitting another person accompanying the applicant during inspection of records would prima facie amount to providing information to a third party. In doing so the court permitted an RTI applicant to inspect the...

Chhattisgarh High Court Modifies Judgment In RTI Case, Substitutes 'Bombarded' & 'Habitual Information Seeker' With Neutral Expressions

The Chhattisgarh High Court has modified its earlier judgment by substituting the expressions "habitual information seeker" and "bombarded" with the more neutral expressions "regular information seeker" and "placed on the PIO". The Court observed that although the earlier expressions were not intended to create an adverse impression and were merely...

Supreme Court Stays CIC Order Holding NSE Amenable To RTI Act

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice in an appeal filed by the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) challenging the Delhi High Court's judgment holding that it is a "public authority" under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.The High Court had upheld a 2007 order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) directing that...

Salary Details Of Judges Not Exempted From RTI Act: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently held that details regarding the pay scale/salary details of judges are not information that is exempted under Section 8 of the Right to Information Act. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 358] Justice M Dhandapani noted that the judges receive their salary from the Consolidated Fund of India and since the salary is paid from ...

'Model Code Of Conduct No Bar To Statutory Appointments': Supreme Court Directs To Fill Information Commissions Vacancies

The Supreme Court recently said that the prevalence of Model Code of Conduct in a state/UT shall not act as an impediment to statutory appointments, such as, those to State Information Commissions.A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was dealing with a PIL raising the issue of vacancies in Information Commissions...

PIL In Telangana High Court Seeks Effective Implementation Of RTI Online Portal, Hybrid Hearings Before State Information Commission

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Telangana High Court alleging systemic failures in the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in the State.The PIL seeks directions to the State Government to effectively operationalise the Telangana RTI Online Portal, implement hybrid hearings before the Telangana...

RTI Act | First Appellate Authority Not Deemed Public Information Officer Without Meeting S.5 Requirements: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that a First Appellate Authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005 cannot be treated as a deemed Public Information Officer and subjected to penalty under Section 20(1) of the Act without satisfaction of the statutory requirements contained in Sections 5(4) and 5(5). The Court observed that the State...

CIC Recommends Delhi University To Maintain Public Record Of Foreign Students Getting Admission Based On OCI Card

RTI applicant had sought number of foreign students seeking admission in DU between 2020-2024.

Century Club Is 'Public Authority' Under RTI Act, Land Grant By Mysuru Maharaja Amounts To 'Substantial Financing': Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has recently held that the Century Club, a prestigious members-only club situated in the centre of Bengaluru, is a 'Public Authority' under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 242]The Division Bench of Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice Venkatesh Naik T has dismissed the appeal filed by the Century Club,...

RTI Act | Penalty For Delay In Furnishing Information Can't Be Imposed Without Hearing Public Information Officer: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that penalty under Section 20 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 cannot be imposed without forming opinion on material and affording opportunity of hearing to the Public Information Officer.For context, Section 20 penalises deliberate obstruction or delay in supplying information sought under the RTI Act.The...

Specific Notice Under RTI Act Mandatory Before Imposing Penalty On Public Information Officer: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that the State Information Commission cannot treat an earlier notice issued during appeal proceedings as a "final notice" for the purpose of imposing a penalty under Section 20(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Court observed that before imposing a penalty upon a Public Information Officer, the...

Private Schools Are Not 'Public Authority' Under RTI Act, But Must Display Fee Structure As Per State Rules: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has held that private unaided schools are bound to display their fee structure at the entrance. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 306] Relying on the provisions of the Private Schools Act and the Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Rules, Justice M Dhandapani held that the Rules mandate displaying details of infrastructure...