Imphal Times: Imphal: Thursday, 19 February 2026.
In a significant ruling strengthening access to information for economically vulnerable citizens, the Manipur Information Commission has held that Priority Household (PHH) beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013 are entitled to exemption from payment of fees under Section 7(5) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
The decision came in
Complaint Case No. 15 of 2025 filed by Asem Roshan Singh against the SPIO/BDO,
Wangoi, Imphal West. The complainant had sought information relating to MGNREGA
works executed under the Samusang Bitra Urokhong Gram Panchayat and claimed
exemption from RTI fees on the basis of a certificate issued by the District
Supply Officer (DSO), certifying that his PHH ration card was equivalent to the
Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
However, the SPIO denied the exemption and raised a demand of Rs. 8,058, citing a subsequent administrative clarification stating that PHH cards are not equivalent to BPL. The complainant alleged procedural irregularities and challenged the fee demand before the Commission.
After multiple hearings and seeking clarification from the Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (CAF & PD) Department, the Commission examined the legal position following the enforcement of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). The Commission observed that although the earlier BPL/APL framework had been replaced by the statutory categories of Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), the restructuring did not abolish poverty identification but merely changed its nomenclature and mechanism.
The Commission held that PHH beneficiaries represent the contemporary statutory successors of the erstwhile BPL category for purposes of socio-economic recognition and statutory concessions. It ruled that in the absence of any express statutory exclusion, PHH beneficiaries cannot be denied exemption under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act merely due to change in classification under the NFSA.
Importantly, the Commission noted that the certificate dated 01.07.2025 issued by the competent authority certifying PHH as equivalent to BPL was valid and had not been revoked. It further held that subsequent administrative clarifications cannot operate retrospectively to defeat a statutory benefit already accrued to a citizen.
Accordingly, the Commission set aside the fee demand as legally unsustainable and reaffirmed that public authorities must process RTI applications fairly and reasonably, without allowing administrative ambiguities to frustrate statutory rights.
With this ruling, PHH beneficiaries across Manipur are assured that their economic status will not become a barrier to accessing information under the RTI Act.
In a significant ruling strengthening access to information for economically vulnerable citizens, the Manipur Information Commission has held that Priority Household (PHH) beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013 are entitled to exemption from payment of fees under Section 7(5) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
However, the SPIO denied the exemption and raised a demand of Rs. 8,058, citing a subsequent administrative clarification stating that PHH cards are not equivalent to BPL. The complainant alleged procedural irregularities and challenged the fee demand before the Commission.
After multiple hearings and seeking clarification from the Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (CAF & PD) Department, the Commission examined the legal position following the enforcement of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). The Commission observed that although the earlier BPL/APL framework had been replaced by the statutory categories of Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), the restructuring did not abolish poverty identification but merely changed its nomenclature and mechanism.
The Commission held that PHH beneficiaries represent the contemporary statutory successors of the erstwhile BPL category for purposes of socio-economic recognition and statutory concessions. It ruled that in the absence of any express statutory exclusion, PHH beneficiaries cannot be denied exemption under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act merely due to change in classification under the NFSA.
Importantly, the Commission noted that the certificate dated 01.07.2025 issued by the competent authority certifying PHH as equivalent to BPL was valid and had not been revoked. It further held that subsequent administrative clarifications cannot operate retrospectively to defeat a statutory benefit already accrued to a citizen.
Accordingly, the Commission set aside the fee demand as legally unsustainable and reaffirmed that public authorities must process RTI applications fairly and reasonably, without allowing administrative ambiguities to frustrate statutory rights.
With this ruling, PHH beneficiaries across Manipur are assured that their economic status will not become a barrier to accessing information under the RTI Act.
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