Day An RTI Reply Becomes Criminal Act

The Right to Information Act, 2005 rests on a simple democratic principle: a citizen has the right to know what the State is doing, how it is doing it and what records it holds. The Public Information Officer is not merely an administrative intermediary in this process. He is the statutory officer through whom that right is implemented. His obligation to respond is created by law. This becomes particularly significant when a PIO does not merely delay information or commit an inadvertent mistake,...

RTI Applicant's Claim That Information Would Help Pending Civil Litigation Can't Override Third-Party Exemption: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the Punjab State Information Commission's refusal to furnish RTI information relating to an FIR, holding that an applicant's claim that the information would assist him in pending civil litigation does not, by itself, establish the larger public interest necessary to...

RTI Applicant Can't Directly Seek CCTV Footage Covered By Section 8(1)(g), May Approach Court/Commission: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that CCTV footage sought under the Right to Information Act, 2005 cannot be supplied directly to the applicant when it is covered by the exception contained in Section 8(1)(g) of the Act. It held that a Court or Commission has the power to call for such footage and to direct its preservation, and may do so once the...

RTI Act | Chhattisgarh High Court Quashes ₹25K RTI Penalty, Says Mala Fide Intent Must Be Established For Action

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that imposition of penalty under Section 20 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 requires a categorical finding that the information was withheld due to the deliberate and mala fide acts of the Public Information Officer. The Court accordingly set aside a ₹25,000 penalty imposed on a Public Information Officer,...

University Can't Levy Internal Fee For Answer Scripts Sought By Student Under RTI Act: CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has held that a University cannot impose internal fee for proving copies of answer script, when the information was sought by the student under the Right to Information Act, 2005.Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi was dealing with the appeal preferred by a student of Patharkandi College affiliated...

Public Authority Not Obliged To Collect Information From Private Body To Furnish To An Applicant: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that a public authority is not under an obligation under the RTI Act to obtain information from a private body to satisfy an applicant seeking information. The Court further held that while the public authority is required to furnish the information held by it at the point in time when the request is made, the RTI Act...

Private Documents Obtained From Public Authority Under RTI Act Don't Become Public Documents: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has held that a private document which is stored in a public office, sought and obtained under Right To Information Act does not automatically become public document under the Section 74 of Indian Evidence Act unless kept as a public record. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 224]The court also held that even the certified true copies of...

Karnataka High Court Flags 'Misuse' Of RTI Act, Seeks Details From Activists Who Filed Thousands Of Applications & Appeals

The Karnataka High Court has on August 19 [Wednesday] directed several petitioners who have been blacklisted by the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) to file detailed affidavits justifying the thousands of RTI applications and appeals they have filed, observing that such large-scale filings ex-facie appears to be a misuse of the RTI Act. ...

Approved Building Plan Not 'Personal Information', Can Be Disclosed To RTI Applicant: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that a building plan approved by a local body would not constitute 'personal information' as per the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) and can, therefore, be disclosed to an RTI applicant. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 454]Justice Murali Purushothaman held:“Once a building plan is approved by the Secretary of the Panchayat, it...

Non-Supply Of RTI Information After Election Results Is Not 'Corrupt Practice' U/S 123(7) Of RP Act: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that non-supply of information sought under the RTI Act after the declaration of election results does not constitute assistance for furthering the prospects of a candidate's election and therefore cannot constitute a corrupt practice under Section 123(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Court...

Unrebutted Communication From Competent Authority Prevails Over Information Received Via RTI: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has observed that a communication issued by a competent authority would prevail over information furnished under the Right to Information Act, particularly when there is no material on record rebutting the contents of the official communication.A division bench of Justice Inderjeet Singh and Justice Sandeep Taneja made the...

KPSC Recruitment: Kerala High Court Stays Order Directing Disclosure Of Rank Holders' Marks, Experience Certificates Under RTI Act

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (August 11) stayed an order of the State Information Commission, which directed the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) to disclose records relating to the Planning Board recruitment examination.A detailed order is awaited.Justice Murali Purushothaman today stayed the Commission's order directing disclosure of...