RTI has changed- here's how

India Today: New Delhi: Tuesday, 8^th September 2026.

India’s DPDP Act, 2023 has raised questions about how far the right to privacy should extend when information is needed for public accountability. Could the new rules change what citizens can access through the RTI Act?

(Click here for Vodeo)

CIC pulls up CBSE over RTI answer sheets, asks board to review revaluation restriction

The Times of India: New Delhi: Tuesday, 8^th September 2026.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has come under scrutiny after the Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled that students seeking copies of their evaluated answer scripts under the Right to Information (RTI) Act must be charged strictly according to the RTI Rules, 2012. The commission has also objected to a CBSE rule that prevents candidates from seeking verification or revaluation after obtaining their answer sheets through the RTI route.
Student challenges the high cost of the regular process
The case reached the CIC after a Class 10 student filed an RTI application seeking photocopies of his answer sheets. The student had raised concerns about the cost of CBSE's regular post-result procedures and argued that accessing answer scripts through the RTI Act offered a more affordable route.
According to the application, the student was required to pay Rs 2,500 to obtain photocopies of answer sheets for five subjects. Another Rs 2,500 was required for re-verification, while re-evaluation carried a separate charge of Rs 100 per question. Taken together, the student argued that pursuing all available remedies could cost nearly Rs 10,000.
The candidate also raised concerns over the difficulty level of the Class 10 Mathematics Standard Set 3 question paper, the implementation of the moderation policy, and alleged deductions in marks.
Answer sheets supplied, but larger questions remained
CBSE's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in a response dated July 2, 2025, informed the candidate that the requested answer books had been sent by email after the prescribed fee was paid.
However, the student subsequently filed a first appeal, raising questions about blank pages in the answer books, the moderation policy and the evaluation process. The First Appellate Authority noted that several of these issues went beyond the original RTI queries and involved explanations and analytical responses.
During the hearing before the CIC, CBSE maintained that the answer scripts had been supplied after the student paid photocopying charges in accordance with the RTI Rules, 2012.
CIC questions CBSE's revaluation restriction
The bigger issue before the commission was CBSE's May 19, 2025 circular. While the circular permits students to obtain copies of answer books under the RTI Act, it states that candidates who follow this route cannot subsequently seek verification or revaluation under the board's examination framework.
The CIC took exception to this condition.
The commission observed that denying a candidate the opportunity to seek revaluation merely because they had first accessed their answer script through the RTI Act goes against the broader purpose of the transparency legislation.
In effect, the commission underlined that obtaining information under the RTI Act should not become a reason for taking away another remedy otherwise available to a student.
RTI Act cannot be overridden by other rules
The CIC further made it clear that CBSE cannot rely on separate rules or regulations to impose fees or conditions that conflict with the RTI Act.
Referring to Section 22 of the RTI Act, the commission pointed out that the transparency law has an overriding effect over provisions contained in other laws, rules or instruments where there is any inconsistency.
The commission also referred to the Supreme Court's April 11, 2019 judgment in ICSI vs Paras Jain, which held that remedies available under an institution's internal guidelines and those available under the RTI framework are not mutually exclusive.
The observation is particularly significant because it reinforces the principle that students should not be forced to choose between seeking information under the RTI Act and pursuing remedies available under an examination body's own rules.
CBSE asked to bring circular in line with RTI law
The CIC has now directed CBSE to provide copies of answer scripts sought under the RTI Act by charging photocopying fees strictly in accordance with the RTI Rules, 2012.
It has also cautioned the CPIO to exercise greater due diligence while dealing with such cases in the future.
More importantly, the commission has recommended that CBSE amend its May 19, 2025, circular under Section 25(5) to ensure that it conforms to the provisions and spirit of the RTI Act.
The order could have wider implications for students seeking greater transparency in the examination system. For years, access to evaluated answer sheets, verification, and revaluation have remained costly and complicated processes for candidates. The CIC's intervention sends a clear message: the right to access one's answer script cannot be diluted by conditions that undermine the purpose of the country's transparency law.
For students, the decision strengthens an important principle: seeking information about one's examination performance should not mean losing the right to challenge it.

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

Live Law: Chhattisgarh: Tuesday, 8^th September 2026.

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, finding that there was no mala fide or deliberate.
Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad was hearing a writ petition filed challenging the order dated November 7, 2023, passed by the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission in a second appeal. The proceedings arose from an RTI application seeking certain information concerning Gram Panchayat Pachheda for the financial years 2014-15 to 2020-21.
The RTI applicant subsequently filed a First Appeal alleging that the petitioner had refused to provide the information and also approached the State Information Commission. The State Information Commission held that the information had been withheld without reasonable cause and imposed a penalty of ₹25,000 on the petitioner under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act.
The petitioner submitted that the penalty had been imposed without recording any finding of mala fide intent and that there was no deliberate act to withhold the information.
The Court held that under Section 20 of the RTI Act, imposition of penalty requires a categorical finding of documents being due to mala fide acts of the Public Information Officer. Without such a finding, the imposition of penalty is unsustainable in law.
“Under Section 20 of the RTI Act, the imposition of penalty or a recommendation of disciplinary action requires a categorical finding that the documents were withheld due to the deliberate and malafide acts of the Public Information Officer. Unless such a finding is recorded in the order supported by cogent reasons, the imposition of penalty is unsustainable in law,” the Court remarked.
On the facts of the case, the Court found a complete absence of mala fide or deliberate failure on the part of the Public Information Officer. It held that unless malafide intent and deliberate intent were duly established, the penalty cannot be sustained.
The Court therefore allowed the petition and set aside the State Information Commission's order dated November 7, 2023, imposing the penalty.
Case Title: Radhika Sidar v. Chhattisgarh State Information Commission & Ors. [WPC No. 2353 of 2024]
(Click Here to Download Order)

Farmers forum seeks RTI records before SC in Cauvery case

The Times of India: Hubballi: Monday, 7^th September 2026.

Kottur (Vijayanagara): The Young Farmers Forum of Karnataka, Kottur, has urged advocate general K Shashikiran Shetty to place four recent Right to Information (RTI) disclosures before the Supreme Court ahead of the Sept 15 hearing in MA No. 2445/2026. The forum alleged serious gaps in the data used for inter-state water management.
In an urgent representation, forum convener Vinayaka Mudenuru highlighted what he described as institutional shortcomings in the functioning of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC). He said the RTI replies revealed major deficiencies in the collection, coordination and use of reservoir siltation and distress-formula data.
According to a dossier submitted by the forum, a copy of which was made available to TOI, CWC replies dated Aug 13 and 24 indicate a lack of internal coordination on siltation and distress-formula data. Mudenuru said sedimentation compendiums are available for 12 reservoirs but alleged that the records are not synchronised with CWMA directives.
The forum further stated that a CWMA reply dated Aug 12 acknowledged six specific data deficiencies. These include the absence of comprehensive reservoir surveys since 2009, missing working sheets and the lack of a designated officer to oversee the data.
Questioning the basis of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) July 28 direction to Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water, the forum alleged that the order was issued without updated siltation data or a documented methodology. It also claimed that the directive relied on storage tables that failed to account for silt-induced losses of 3% to 13%.
The forum said the issue has gained significance because of the narrow gap between the Supreme Court hearing on Sept 15 and a Sept 16 deadline under a CWMA appellate order, which mandates publication of pending reservoir data under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act.
It has urged the advocate general to direct the state’s legal team to file a supplementary affidavit under IA No. 226779/2026, incorporating all four RTI documents as annexures before the apex court.
The forum also sought transparent reservoir-data dashboards, clearly defined transmission-loss coefficients and strict monitoring of compliance to ensure that pending data is released within the stipulated timeframe.
The representation comes amid the forum’s contention that decisions on inter-state water releases must be based on updated, verifiable and publicly accessible reservoir data, particularly when siltation can significantly affect actual storage capacity.

Every fourth Jan Dhan account inoperative: RTI

Millennium Post: Jaipur: Monday, 7^th September 2026.

Nearly one in four bank accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is currently classified as inoperative, while nearly 5.72 crore accounts have no balance, according to data obtained under the Right to Information Act.
The Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, said in an RTI response dated September 1 that India had 59,03,74,907 PMJDY accounts with a combined balance of Rs 3,15,179.90 crore as of August 12, 2026. The response was issued to activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur.
Of the total accounts, 32.89 crore belong to women, including transgender account holders, while 26.14 crore are held by men. The data showed that 5,72,35,490 accounts had zero balance. Another 15,36,77,009 accounts were classified as inoperative.
Uttar Pradesh reported the largest number of zero-balance accounts at 95.92 lakh, followed by Bihar with 62.35 lakh, West Bengal with 37.20 lakh, Assam with 36.30 lakh and Maharashtra with 36.04 lakh.
The state also topped the list for inoperative accounts, with 3.23 crore such accounts. Bihar followed with 1.59 crore, Madhya Pradesh with 1.35 crore, West Bengal with 1.02 crore and Maharashtra with 97.94 lakh.
Uttar Pradesh had the highest overall number of Jan Dhan accounts at 10.51 crore. Bihar had 7.01 crore, West Bengal 5.73 crore, Rajasthan 3.87 crore and Maharashtra 3.85 crore.
Launched in August 2014 as the National Mission for Financial Inclusion, PMJDY seeks to provide households with access to banking services, financial literacy and social security benefits through at least one basic bank account. The Centre said it does not centrally maintain gender-wise data on account balances, zero-balance or inoperative accounts. It also does not maintain central figures for accounts holding less than Rs 100, accounts closed during the past five years, or accounts blocked or frozen over suspected transactions or cyber fraud.
The state-wise figures supplied in the RTI response cover 36 states and Union territories.

RTI reveals Rs 6.17 crore allocated to shift Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's Office

ANI News: Chennai: Monday, 7^th September 2026.

RTI reveals Rs 6.17 crore allocated to shift Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's Office

The Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 6.17 crore for shifting the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) from the Secretariat to the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maligai, according to information furnished under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The details were provided by the Public (Buildings) Department in response to an RTI application filed on August 23.
In response to a specific query on the "funds allocated for shifting the Chief Minister’s Office to the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maligai and carrying out related works", the Public Information Officer and Executive Engineer stated that Rs 6.17 crore had been allocated for the purpose.
The allocation comes amid questions over expenditure on administrative rearrangements within the state Secretariat complex.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Minister Arun Raj on Saturday said Chief Minister Vijay will respond to questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin and other legislators in the Assembly tomorrow, while rejecting allegations that law and order had deteriorated under the present government.
Responding to remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Arun Raj said, "Questions were asked not only by the Leader of the Opposition, but by all other leaders. Our Honourable CM will definitely answer all these questions."
"This government, legislature and democracy are for the people. The CM will answer in the same line as the Leader of the Opposition," he added.
The Tamil Nadu Minister also criticised Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks on law and order, saying the Opposition leader's speech gave an impression that the situation was satisfactory only during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government and had deteriorated in the last 100 days.
"The Leader of the Opposition’s speech on Thursday gave the impression that law and order was very well maintained during the DMK’s rule and had gone into shambles only during the last 100 days. But the situation is not like that, and everybody knows it," Raj said.
Earlier on Thursday, Udhayanidhi Stalin had questioned Chief Minister Vijay over the law and order situation in the state and alleged that the TVK government had failed to introduce any new schemes during its first 116 days in office.
Speaking in the Assembly on Thursday, Stalin said, "I want answers from CM Vijay, who holds the Police portfolio, on the collapse of law and order. It has been 116 days since this Government came to power. It has not introduced a single scheme; instead, it is neither endorsing schemes brought by the DMK regime nor scrapping them."
He also alleged a contradiction between the government's promises and announcements and claimed that the TVK government was focusing only on promoting reel content. (ANI)

Bihar SIC fines VIB DSP Rs25k over RTI reply

The Times of India: Patna: Monday, 7^th September 2026.

Bihar State Information Commission has imposed a Rs 25,000 penalty on DSP-rank officer Vasudev Roy, posted with the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB), for allegedly providing misleading information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The commission also directed the Bihar director general of police (DGP) to initiate departmental proceedings against Roy over his conduct as public information officer (PIO) with a copy of the order sent to VIB DG.
The case dates back to 2021, when RTI activist Nikesh Kumar Jha alias Raghav of Supaul sought information related to an order issued by the superintendent of police in connection with a case. After failing to receive the information, Jha approached the commission.
The commission found Roy had allegedly failed to properly deal with the application and refused to accept a communication from Jha. The penalty was imposed under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, while departmental action was recommended under Section 20(2).
VIB DG Jitendra Singh Gangwar said, “We would initiate an action as needed after receiving the order copy.”
Jha, who had pursued the matter for over five years, welcomed the decision and said it sent an important message to PIOs to follow the RTI Act and provide accurate information.

Board exam answer sheets: CIC tells CBSE to charge as per RTI Rules, amend circular

Deccan Herald: New Delhi: Monday, 7^th September 2026.
According to the application, the re-evaluation process involved Rs 2,500 for the photocopies of five subjects, Rs 2,500 for re-verification and Rs 100 per question, with the total expense potentially reaching Rs 10,000.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the CBSE to provide copies of answer scripts sought under the RTI Act by charging photocopying fees strictly as prescribed under the RTI Rules, 2012.
The commission also recommended that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) amend its May 19, 2025, circular after finding that a provision restricting candidates from seeking revaluation after obtaining answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act is inconsistent with the spirit of the transparency law.
The matter arose from an RTI application filed by a Class-10 CBSE board examination candidate, who had sought photocopies of his answer sheets under the RTI Act, citing the high cost of the regular re-evaluation process.
He had also raised concerns over the difficulty of the Class-10 Mathematics Standard Set 3 paper, implementation of the moderation policy and deductions in marks.
According to the application, the re-evaluation process involved Rs 2,500 for the photocopies of five subjects, Rs 2,500 for re-verification and Rs 100 per question, with the total expense potentially reaching Rs 10,000.
"I kindly request CBSE to provide photocopies of my answer sheets under the RTI Act, 2005. Due to high amount," the applicant had said in his RTI request.
The central public information officer (CPIO) of the board informed the candidate on July 2, 2025, that after receipt of the requisite fee, copies of the desired answer books were forwarded to him by email.
The candidate subsequently filed a first appeal, raising questions concerning blank pages in answer books, the moderation policy in mathematics and the evaluation of his answer sheet. The First Appellate Authority said these were different from the original RTI queries and sought explanations and analytical responses.
During the CIC hearing, the CPIO submitted that the answer sheet was supplied after payment of photocopying charges as prescribed under the RTI Rules, 2012.
The CPIO also referred to a CBSE circular dated May 19, 2025, which stated that answer-book copies could be obtained under the RTI Act, but requests for verification or revaluation could not be made under the Act.
The CIC took exception to this restriction, observing that an embargo preventing a candidate from seeking revaluation merely because he obtained an answer sheet through RTI went against the spirit of the RTI Act and Rules.
The commission further said the CBSE could not rely on other rules or regulations to impose fees or conditions inconsistent with the RTI Act. It cited section 22, which gives the RTI Act overriding effect over inconsistent provisions in other laws or instruments.
The CIC also relied on the Supreme Court's April 11, 2019 judgment in ICSI vs Paras Jain, which held that avenues available under an institution's guidelines and the RTI framework are not mutually exclusive.
The commission, therefore, directed that answer scripts sought under RTI be supplied by charging photocopying fees strictly according to the RTI Rules, 2012.
It also cautioned the CPIO to exercise due diligence in the future and recommended that the CBSE amend its May 19 circular under section 25(5) to bring it in conformity with the RTI Act.

Aid Of Third Parties In Inspecting Documents Under RTI Act: Ammar Shahid & Syed Raiyyan

Live Law: Ahmedabad: Sunday, 6^th September 2026.
Recently, in Vala Jodhubhai Golanbhai v. RTI Officer,[1] the Gujarat High Court (“GHC”) has held that it is impermissible for an information seeker under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (“Act”) to be accompanied by third parties during the inspection of documents accessed through the Act.

In the case, the nature of the application filed under the Act necessitated the applicant's inspection of bulky records to cull out the information they desired. Since the applicant was not conversant with the language of the documents containing such records, they sought assistance from third parties to translate them. The Public Authority, however, refused access on the ground that the applicant was not empowered to be attended by third parties during the inspection. The GHC upheld the decision on appeal, and found that the applicant was prohibited from involving a third party in the process.
As to where this prohibition arises, the GHC did not say much. The GHC merely stated that permitting another person to accompany the applicant during inspection of records would be tantamount to providing information to a third party. It further found that third parties' involvement suggests that “the petitioner is merely acting as a pawn for such third party, which is not the object or purpose of the Right to Information Act.”
The premise of the proposition is unconvincing. Whether a person acts independently or as a pawn of any third party, they are statutorily entitled to access information if it is not restricted under the Act. Moreover, the third party, if they are an Indian citizen, are also empowered to receive information under the Act.
More importantly, such a restriction is absent from the Act's framework. Therefore, the restriction is at odds with the principle that limitations of the fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution (which include the right to information) must be rooted in a legislative Act and not stem from executive discretion.
This piece argues that the GHC verdict, being unsupported by the Act, violates the right to information in both text and spirit. Moreover, it attempts to offer a better paradigm for handling cases akin to the one before the GHC.
Framework of the Act
The Act enables citizens of India to access information, including records, documents, and reports, possessed by public authorities. Significantly, Section 2(j) of the Act defines the right to information as including the right to inspect work, documents, and records overseen by the concerned public authority. Any citizen seeking such information may apply to the said public authority, which shall be bound to furnish the requested information, unless it is exempted under the Act itself.
Restriction Out of Thin Air
These exemptions are narrow and provided under Sections 8, 9, 11, and 24 of the Act. Under Section 8, Public Authorities are exempted from furnishing information on certain subjects, such as information related to national security, detrimental to international relations, involving personal information of third parties, and so on. Section 9 exempts information that would result in copyright infringement of persons other than the state. Section 11 stipulates that if the information sought by any person relates to a third party or has been supplied by a third party to the public authority, the third party must be allowed to make a representation regarding the disclosure of that information. Section 24 empowers the Central Government to exclude certain public authorities from the purview of the Act. Along with these, the Delhi High Court in Shishir Chand v. The Central Information Commission[2] and the Central Information Commission in Mr Ramesh Chand Jain v. Government of NCT of Delhi[3] have added an extra-statutory ground of previous disclosure of information for refusing to furnish information, which has since become a recognised exception.
None of these envisages that the right to inspect public documents may be refused because the applicant had involved a third party, as has been held by the GHC.
In fact, the Act only mentions third parties in a very specific context. Third parties are defined as legal persons other than the citizen requesting information (and, logically, the public authority from which the information is sought, although not explicitly stated in the Act). However, the Act refers to third parties only for creating additional fortification against providing information that concerns them, such as those made under Sections 8 and 11. Other than that, no further restrictions have been incorporated in the Act to prevent third-party access to the information. The invented restriction is thus nowhere to be found in the Act.
Right to Information, Intelligent Decisions
At this point, it is critical to note that the GHC, technically, did not foreclose all avenues for the applicant. It allowed them to inspect the documents provided no third-party escorts them. However, the GHC completely overlooked that such an inspection would be well-nigh meaningless, as the applicant would not understand the documents themselves. While this does not formally restrict the applicant's right to information, in substance, it rendered it nugatory.
 
The decision, while made under the rubric of protecting the Act's object, undermines the very concept of the right to information. The right to information, although effectuated through the Act, is rooted in Article 19(1)(a). It is considered critical for the health of a democracy, as it enables citizens to access and utilise information to form informed opinions and take intelligent decisions. In Union of India v. Association for Democratic Reform, one of the foremost cases concerning the right to information in India, the SC had noted that “the members of a democratic society should be sufficiently informed so that they may influence intelligently the decisions which may affect them. . .”[4] If the information provided to individuals cannot be understood, assessed, and used to form opinions and make informed decisions, then dissemination of the information is merely a procedural formality and not an effective exercise of the right. The GHC has shown plumb disregard for these crucial elements.
Rights cannot be restricted through backdoor intrusion by the Executive/Court.
Consequently, the GHC's invented restriction effectively curtails the applicant's right to information, in a manner not prescribed by the Act. Certainly, reasonable restrictions on the right to information, enshrined in Article 19(1)(a), by virtue of Article 19(2), are permissible and no right can be considered absolute.
However, the SC has held that imposing limitations on the said rights is primarily the legislature's domain. In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, it clarified that “[t]he reasonable restrictions [on fundamental rights] sought to be imposed must be through “a law” having statutory force and not a mere Executive or Departmental instruction. The restraint upon the Executive not to have a backdoor intrusion applies equally to Courts.”[5] As a result, the restriction imposed by an executive and judicial imagination is unconstitutional for violating Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The GHC, unfortunately, does not analyse this facet in its judgment.
What might be done?
Admittedly, unbridled license to involve as many people as the applicant wishes in the inspection of documents under the Act is unfeasible. However, this could have been handled better than by the GHC.
Frankly, there is no clear provision that addresses the odd circumstances of the case. The Act does consider the country's linguistic diversity in allowing applications to be made and answered in English, Hindi, or in the area's official language where the public authority is situated. However, it does not envision a situation in which existing documents in a particular language are examined by someone who is not well-versed in the same. There can be two potential solutions for this peculiarity.
The first would be an affidavit attached to the application attesting that the applicant is not conversant with the language of the documents they require to inspect, and therefore, needs the support of a third party. To align this with the provisions of the Act, it may be mandated that in such cases, the third party accompanying the applicant must also be a citizen of India, and thus, entitled to the same right as the applicant to scrutinise the public documents under the Act. Interestingly, in the present case, the applicant had adopted this mechanism to resolve their quandary. Unfortunately, the GHC rode roughshod over the applicant's proposed method without giving it any consideration.
Second, the burden of effectively communicating the information to the applicant may be shifted onto the public authorities themselves. The Act itself stipulates special accommodations for certain classes of individuals. For instance. Section 7(4) of the Act requires that arrangements be made for sensorily disabled applicants. A similar remedy may be incorporated for those who require aid in accessing information due to linguistic obstacles. This may involve translating the records into either English or the language requested by the applicant, or providing a translator on the applicant's request to accompany them during the inspection.
Out of the two, the former is empirically and economically effective. In the latter case, if the applicant has any grievance with the translator or translations at the behest of the public authority, it may open a new source of litigation on an already overburdened judicial system. On the other hand, it would ensure that everyone, including those who may not be able to employ or convince third parties to assist them, will have equitable access to documents and records. Perhaps a conjoined framework, with the affidavit route as the default and authority-provided translation as a fallback for applicants who can't arrange their own help, is plausible. These suggestions, of course, are not iron-clad and will require fine-tuning before implementation.
Nevertheless, they attempt to go beyond the unthought-out restriction that the GHC upheld, and reconcile administrative feasibility with fruitful exercise of the right to information.
The case before the GHC presented it with the opportunity to pioneer an interpretation over a question that had, till now, remained untraversed. Surely, there was no straightforward path for the Court; however, it could still have ventured to chart out a clearer path for such situations. The slapdash and inert manner in which it responded to it is disappointing to say the least. One can only hope that this judgment will provoke a more detailed and, with luck, better solution to the issue.

Student seeks evaluated Answer Script, University demands ₹1,000: CIC Says RTI Rules Override: By Ankita Kumari

SCC Online: New Delhi: Sunday, 6^th September 2026.
“It is noteworthy that when any Rules/Bye Laws are found inconsistent with the RTI Act, 2005 then the non-obstante clause of Section 22 becomes operative.”

Central Information Commission: In a second appeal against the demand of ₹1000 for providing a copy of the appellant’s evaluated answer script for the FYUG 2nd Semester Examination, 2025, Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi, allowed the appeal and set aside the impugned decision of Patharkandi College affiliated with Assam University. Relying on Section 22, RTI Act, the Commission held that where an answer script is sought under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act), the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) can charge only the photocopying fee prescribed under the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2012 (RTI Rules), and cannot enforce university regulations inconsistent with the statutory fee structure.
Background:
The appellant, a student of Patharkandi College affiliated with Assam University, Silchar (a Central University established under the Central Universities Act, 2009), sought a certified photocopy of his evaluated answer script for the FYUG 2nd semester examination, 2025, in Philosophy (Paper Code PHPDSM151), after securing 35 out of 70 marks. The CPIO demanded ₹1000 for providing the answer script, and the First Appellate Authority upheld the demand on the ground that Assam University, being an autonomous institution, had prescribed the fee under its own notification. Aggrieved, the appellant filed a second appeal before the Commission.
The appellant contended that the demand violated Rule 4(a), RTI Rules, 2012, which prescribes photocopying charges at ₹2 per page, and that Section 22, RTI Act overrides inconsistent rules or regulations. The CPIO, however, maintained that the University was entitled to frame its own rules and had demanded ₹1000 pursuant to its Notification dated 18 June 2023.
The appellant also relied on CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, (2011) 8 SCC 497, in which the Supreme Court held that an evaluated answer book constitutes “information” under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act, as it contains the examiner’s opinion.
The appellant further relied on Alka Matoria v. Maharaja Ganga Singh University, 2012 SCC On Line Raj 3593, where the Rajasthan High Court, on facts identical to the present case, quashed a university regulation demanding ₹1,000 for a copy of an answer book, observing that the charge appeared to be “an ill-intended attempt… to somehow discourage students from seeking certified copies of their answer books.” The Special Leave Petition against that judgment was dismissed in limine by the Supreme Court.
Analysis:
The Commission, observed that the core issue in the instant appeal was the demand of additional fees of ₹1000 by the CPIO under the Assam University Rules, which was alleged to be contrary to the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005. The CPIO, submitted that Assam University, being an autonomous body, was entitled to frame its own Rules and that the demand of ₹1000 had been made in terms of Assam University Notification No. AUK-202/8/2004 dated 18 June 2023. The CPIO further stated that the appellant had sought similar information through RTI applications previously and had paid the requisite fees without protest. It was also submitted that, being a part of the University, the CPIO was obligated to follow its Rules and bye-laws and had accordingly communicated the applicable fee to the appellant as part of the procedure followed by the University for disclosure of evaluated answer scripts to students.
At the outset, the Commission agreed with the appellant that the demand of additional fees of ₹1000 by the CPIO for providing the evaluated answer script sought under the RTI Act was not within the confines of the RTI Act and the RTI Rules. The Commission observed that although the CPIO advised the appellant to obtain a copy of the documents in accordance with the procedure prescribed under Assam University Notification No. AUK-202/8/2004 dated 18 June 2023, it is not permissible to take recourse to any other rules or regulations for supplying information or stipulating fees for providing copies of documents inconsistent with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 and the Rules made thereunder.
“It is noteworthy that when any Rules/Bye Laws are found inconsistent with the RTI Act, 2005 then the non-obstante clause of Section 22 becomes operative.”
The Commission further found weightage in the case law cited by the appellant, namely, ICSI v. Paras Jain, Civil Appeal No. 5665 of 2014, wherein it was held that the institutional mechanism and the RTI route for obtaining answer scripts are not mutually exclusive. Where a candidate seeks the answer script under the RTI Act, the fee must be charged in accordance with the RTI Rules. Applying the aforesaid ratio, the Commission held that the CPIO was required to provide the answer script by charging photocopying charges strictly as per the RTI Rules, 2012, and cautioned the CPIO to exercise due diligence in future.
Allowing the second appeal, the Commission set aside the impugned decision of the respondent and directed the CPIO to provide the appellant’s own answer script for the FYUG 2nd Semester Examination, 2025, for paper code PHPDSM151 M, free of cost. The CPIO was directed to comply with the aforesaid direction within 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the order, under due intimation to the Commission.
[Ahmed Shakir v. The CPIO Assam University, CIC/ASUVR/A/2025/657621, decided on 6-7-2026]

RTI data: Nearly 40% of EWS applications rejected in J&K in last 5 years

Hindustan Times: Jammu: Saturday, 5^th September 2026.
The Kathua tehsildar said 6,963 applications for issuance of EWS certificates were received between 2022 and 2027 (to date). Of these, 4,276 certificates were issued, while 2,687 applications, were rejected.
Nearly 40% of the applications for economically weaker section (EWS) certificates filed in Kathua tehsil over the last five years have been rejected, according to data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

In response to Jammu-based RTI activist Raman Kumar Sharma, the Kathua tehsildar said 6,963 applications for issuance of EWS certificates were received between 2022 and 2027 (to date). Of these, 4,276 certificates were issued, while 2,687 applications, close to 40%, were rejected.
Year-wise, data show a rise in both applications and rejections. In FY 2022-23, 480 EWS applications were received, 282 certificates were issued, and 198 were rejected. The numbers rose sharply in FY 2023-24, with 1,566 applications, 1,144 certificates issued and 422 rejected. In 2024-25, 1,372 out of 2,461 applications were approved, while 1,089 were rejected.
The following year, 2025-26, saw 2,205 applications, with 1,325 issued and 880 rejected. For 2026-27 (to date), 251 applications have been received, with 153 certificates issued and 98 rejected.
The tehsil office, however, did not provide data for FY 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, stating that EWS certificates during this period were issued offline, and asked the applicant to approach the office separately for that record.
Commenting on the rejection figures, Sharma said a rejection rate of nearly 40% warranted an audit and called for a white paper to examine the reasons behind the rejections.
“Either residents are not adequately aware of the eligibility requirements for obtaining EWS certificates, or there is some other issue that can come to the fore only after a proper audit or probe,” he said.
The figures, he added, should be examined to determine whether applicants were rejected due to incomplete documentation, ineligibility or other reasons, and whether adequate opportunities were being provided to rectify deficiencies.

CCTV Footage Cannot Be Given Directly Under RTI: Allahabad High Court: By Salil Tiwari

Law Beat: Allahabad: Saturday, 5^th September 2026.
Court says CCTV footage exempt under Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act cannot be directly supplied, but may be preserved and summoned by a court or commission.

The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) has held that a person cannot simply ask for CCTV footage through an RTI application. Court said CCTV footage containing sensitive information cannot be supplied directly to an RTI applicant when it is covered by the exemption under Section 8(1)(g) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. However, court or an appropriate forum can order its preservation and call for the actual footage if a complaint is filed before it.
A division bench of Justices Shekhar B. Saraf and Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary passed the order in a case filed by Shobhit Kashayap against the Uttar Pradesh government and six others, including the State Information Commission. Kashayap was represented by advocates Suraj Kumar Nishad, Atul Raj and Yogesh Soni, while the state was represented by government counsel and advocate Shikhar Anand.
Why did the petitioner seek CCTV footage under RTI?
Kashayap had approached the high court under Article 226 challenging a May 14 order passed by the State Information Commission. Among other reliefs, he sought complete information in response to his RTI application dated March 20, 2025, and sought a maximum penalty of Rs 25,000 against the concerned respondent under the RTI Act. He also sought compensation for the alleged harassment caused to him.
The proceedings before the high court specifically raised the issue of access to CCTV footage.
Counsel appearing for the State Information Commission submitted that the footage contained sensitive information and was covered by the exemption under Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act. However, the Commission said that the footage could be made available to the court or the Commission if directed, though it could not be handed over directly to the applicant.
What did the high court say about preservation of CCTV footage?
Court considered the Supreme Court's judgment in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh and Others, on which the petitioner relied to contend that preservation of CCTV footage was his right.
The Supreme Court had dealt with the preservation and production of CCTV footage in the context of complaints of human rights violations. It had said that the concerned Commission or court could immediately summon CCTV footage for its safe keeping and that such footage could subsequently be made available to an investigating agency.
The Supreme Court had also directed that CCTV footage in police stations and investigative or enforcement agencies be preserved for a minimum period of six months, and said that a victim had a right to have the footage secured in cases of human rights violations.
On examining these observations, court said it was “clear that a Court/Commission has the power to call for CCTV footage and to direct preservation of the said footage".
Why was the CCTV footage not handed over to the petitioner?
Court drew a distinction between the power of a court or commission to secure CCTV footage and an individual's direct entitlement to obtain it through an RTI request.
“We are of the view that the petitioner has, till date, not filed any complaint before any Court or Commission and has simpliciter sought the CCTV footage,” the bench said.
In these circumstances, court held, the footage could not be supplied directly to Kashayap because it was covered by the exemption contained in Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act.
Court, however, did not foreclose access to the footage altogether.
It said that if the petitioner files a complaint before the appropriate forum or court, that forum “may very well direct preservation of the CCTV footage, as well as call for the actual footage” for the purpose of verifying the complaint.
The high court accordingly disposed of the writ petition with these directions.
Case Title: Shobhit Kashayap v. State of U.P. Thru. Addl. Prin. Secy., Administrative Reform Deptt., Lko. and 6 Others
Bench: Justices Shekhar B. Saraf and Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary
Order Date: September 2, 2026

RTI reveals UIDAI did not track Bihar Aadhaar DOB changes after pension hike announcement

Mid-Day: New Delhi: Friday, 4^th September 2026.
In June 2025, Kumar announced that the monthly pension for elderly citizens, persons with disabilities and widowed women under the Social Security Pension Scheme would be increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, effective July 2025

A Right to Information (RTI) query has revealed that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) did not maintain separate data on Aadhaar holders in Bihar who changed their dates of birth after the then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a major pension hike ahead of the 2025 Assembly election.
In June 2025, Kumar announced that the monthly pension for elderly citizens, persons with disabilities and widowed women under the Social Security Pension Scheme would be increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, effective July 2025.
RTI seeks details of Aadhaar DOB changes
The applicant sought the total number of Aadhaar holders in Bihar who updated their date of birth after the pension hike announcement, along with month-wise and district-wise details of such changes.
The RTI query also asked whether the UIDAI, which maintains the Aadhaar system, had conducted any internal review or flagged unusual patterns in date-of-birth updates following the revision.
UIDAI says data was not available
UIDAI initially said the information sought was not covered under the RTI Act.
However, in the first appeal, the authority clarified that "no such information" was available for the questions relating to the number and breakup of date-of-birth changes. The query regarding an internal review was stated to be "not applicable".
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the authority said it did not maintain separate data on Aadhaar holders who had updated their dates of birth after the pension enhancement announcement.
It also said no month-wise or district-wise compilation of such updates was available.
The authority further submitted that no internal review or flagging of unusual patterns, as referred to in the RTI, was applicable or available in its records.
CIC says public authority need not create information
The CIC said the RTI Act does not require a public authority to create, compile or generate information that is not maintained in its records in the form sought by an applicant.
Information Commissioner P R Ramesh, however, observed that the CPIO's initial response, which stated that the information was not covered under the RTI Act, was "not appropriate".
(With PTI inputs)

In RTI reply, MEA silent over CM’s US clearance

The Times of India: Hyderabad: Friday, 4^th September 2026.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refused to disclose file notings, correspondence and other records related to political clearance for chief minister A Revanth Reddy’s proposed US visit, citing RTI Act provisions protecting information that could affect India’s relations with foreign countries.

In its reply to an RTI application, the MEA said political clearance requests were processed based on various factors, some of which could contain sensitive information and have a bearing on India’s diplomatic relations with the concerned country.
The ministry, however, confirmed that political clearance was granted for Revanth Reddy’s UK visit in Aug 2026. It did not clarify whether clearance for his proposed US visit was granted, denied or withheld.
The RTI application, filed by activist Robin Zaccheus, sought certified copies of records, file notings, correspondence, criteria documents, statistical data and other material relating to the political clearance process for foreign visits by chief ministers. It specifically sought details of the Telangana gov’s applications for Revanth Reddy’s proposed UK and US visits in Aug as part of the Telangana Rising programme.
The MEA invoked Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, saying disclosure of the records could have implications for diplomatic relations.
It also said the information sought in the specific format was not maintained by the ministry. Compiling it would require extensive collation of data on individual visits from state govts, ministries and departments, amounting to creation of new information beyond its obligations under the RTI Act.
The ministry further cited Section 7(9), stating that undertaking such an exercise would result in inappropriate diversion of its resources.
The reply, received after the application was filed on Aug 23 and disposed of on Sept 3, comes amid questions over the cancellation of Revanth Reddy’s proposed US leg.
However, the MEA response does not establish why the US visit was cancelled or clarify whether political clearance for the trip had been granted or denied.

Growing RTI discomfort puts J&K Govt offices under CIC scanner

Daily Excelsior: Jammu: Friday, 4^th September 2026.
The Right to Information Act promises citizens a legal route to obtain information from Public Authorities, but latest proceedings before the Central Information Commission (CIC) suggest that several Government offices in Jammu and Kashmir are still struggling or reluctant to deal with such queries in the manner mandated by law.

In four separate matters involving the Social Welfare Department, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Block Development Office, Bhaderwah and office of Deputy Commissioner Jammu, the CIC has flagged a series of lapses in handling RTI applications, including failure to respond within the prescribed timeframe, deemed refusal, an RTI application being addressed to none (Blank), an invalid transfer under Section 6(3), failure to appreciate statutory exemptions and repeated non-compliance with the Commission's directions.
The order concerning the Social Welfare Department is particularly significant as the information sought related to the National Crèche Scheme, Grant-in-Aid released to NGOs/VOs and Utilization Certificates and PFMS-generated payment advice concerning liabilities of 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The CIC found that the CPIO's submissions did not explain why the September 18, 2024 letter forwarding the RTI application was addressed to "none", nor did they explain the inordinate delay in initiating action on March 26, 2025.
The Commission further observed that no reply had been provided within the prescribed timeframe, resulting in a deemed refusal under Section 7(2) of the RTI Act. It also held that the CPIO had erroneously transferred the RTI application under Section 6(3) to the concerned NGOs, which were not shown as Public Authorities.
The CPIO had sought to explain that the records were maintained by the concerned NGOs/VOs and that efforts were made to obtain them. However, the CIC said the reply did not clarify whether the information was available with the department and held that the CPIO could not simply shift the onus to the NGOs.
According to the Commission, Sections 2(f) and 2(j) envisage that a Public Authority should provide information under their control or information which can be accessed from the record-holder office/private body under any law. A cogent reply was therefore required instead of simply shifting the onus to the NGOs and alleging their inaction or non-response.
The CPIO has been asked to submit a cogent response explaining why action should not be taken under Section 20 for failure to reply within the stipulated timeframe, the letter dated September 18, 2024 being addressed to "none", and the invalid transfer under Section 6(3).
In the Block Development Office, Bhaderwah case, the CIC has gone a step further, warning the CPIO of ex-parte imposition of maximum penalty and disciplinary action in case of any further non-compliance.
The applicant had sought detailed information about works undertaken in Panchayat Dheraja during 2023-24, including funds received for clearing vendor bills and skilled labour payments, details of vendor bills and skilled payments, names and addresses of skilled labourers, amounts credited, Gram Sabha register and copies of files and measurement books relating to payments.
After the First Appellate Authority directed the PIO to provide complete information within 15 days, the matter reached the CIC following non-compliance. In its earlier proceedings, the Commission held that failure to provide a reply under Section 7(1) amounted to a deemed refusal, while failure to comply with the FAA's order constituted a gross violation of the RTI Act.
The CIC had also directed the CPIO to show-cause why action should not be taken under Section 20 and to furnish a point-wise reply after examining the information sought under Section 2(f) and applicable exemptions under Section 8(1). But when the show-cause hearing was held few days back, the CPIO again remained absent.
The Commission took grave exception to the non-compliance and reiterated its directions, making it clear that this was the last opportunity to plead the case and comply with the CIC's directions. Any further non-compliance, the Commission warned, would render the CPIO liable for ex-parte imposition of maximum penalty and disciplinary action under Section 20(1) and 20(2) of the RTI Act.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation case presents a different but equally revealing facet.
The applicant had sought copies of attendance registers maintained by NGOs for Safai Karamcharies working in Wards 23 and 23-A from 2006 to 2012. The CPIO initially stated that the record pertaining to 2006, being 18 years old, was not traceable at present and would be supplied if and when traced.
The appellant pointed out that the request covered records up to 2012 and sought the available records for other years. The FAA and Joint Commissioner subsequently directed the CPIO to provide the desired information as per record available.
The CPIO later reported that the concerned Sanitary Inspector and Supervisor had stated that the records were 18 years old and hence not traceable. The CIC, however, found that the CPIO and FAA had failed to appreciate another crucial aspect of the RTI application-that the information sought entails the personal information of third parties and ought to have been denied under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
Though the CIC declined penal action yet it directed the JMC PIO to submit a written explanation for prima-facie disregarding the hearing notice by remaining absent from the proceedings without any advance prayer for leave.
The Deputy Commissioner's Office Jammu matter has raised equally serious concerns. The RTI sought details of fards issued by Tehsildar Bahu, construction on Khasra No. 1149 at Chowadhi and action taken on a court order directing status quo. The CIC found that the CPIO had failed to provide a proper point-wise reply and that the documents relied upon did not establish compliance.
It further observed apparent shifting of onus to the Tehsildar Bahu and said the conduct suggested a lackadaisical approach and a prima-facie intent of misleading the Commission by withholding the facts of the case.