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 such private documents obtained under RTI also...

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...

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. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj)...

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...