The Hindu: Chennai: Monday, 17 March 2025.
Income Tax Department directed to share generic details of the net taxable/gross income
The Central Information
Commission (CIC) has directed the Income Tax (I-T) Department to share with a
man the income details of his estranged wife, who has filed for a divorce.
Income Tax Department directed to share generic details of the net taxable/gross income
Passing orders in an
appeal moved by Ramesh (name changed) challenging the denial of income details
of his spouse sought under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the CIC has
directed the I-T Department to provide the “generic details of the net taxable income/gross
income” of his estranged wife.
The petitioner had called for the I-T returns filed by his wife, an engineer working in a government-owned Public Sector Undertaking in Tamil Nadu, during the financial years 2010-11 to 2021-22. The information was required to defend his case in an ongoing matrimonial/maintenance dispute in a family court.
The Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) had rejected the plea, saying details sought related to “personal information” and their disclosure would cause “unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.”
The First Appellate Authority upheld this, citing that personal information of third party stood exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act unless it involves a larger public interest. The appellant submitted that his wife deserted him and filed a divorce and maintenance case.
After hearing both sides, Information Commissioner Vinod Kumar Tiwari ruled in favour of the appellant. Relying on judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts, he directed the public authority to provide generic details of the net taxable income/gross income of the estranged wife within three weeks.
The CPIO was asked to ensure the appellant was the legally wedded husband and there was a matrimonial/maintenance case pending in the court. The CIC added that the details/copy of I-T returns and other personal information of a third party need not be disclosed.
The petitioner had called for the I-T returns filed by his wife, an engineer working in a government-owned Public Sector Undertaking in Tamil Nadu, during the financial years 2010-11 to 2021-22. The information was required to defend his case in an ongoing matrimonial/maintenance dispute in a family court.
The Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) had rejected the plea, saying details sought related to “personal information” and their disclosure would cause “unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.”
The First Appellate Authority upheld this, citing that personal information of third party stood exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act unless it involves a larger public interest. The appellant submitted that his wife deserted him and filed a divorce and maintenance case.
After hearing both sides, Information Commissioner Vinod Kumar Tiwari ruled in favour of the appellant. Relying on judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts, he directed the public authority to provide generic details of the net taxable income/gross income of the estranged wife within three weeks.
The CPIO was asked to ensure the appellant was the legally wedded husband and there was a matrimonial/maintenance case pending in the court. The CIC added that the details/copy of I-T returns and other personal information of a third party need not be disclosed.
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