The Hindu: Bengaluru: Wednesday, 30th September
2026.
KIC asked to maintain searchable database on applications, appeals, penalties and compliance
The High Court of
Karnataka has directed the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) to prescribe
a uniform format for the collection, maintenance and disclosure of information
relating to the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act by public
authorities in the State.
The court also directed the KIC to establish on its website a central electronic repository or index through which citizens can locate RTI disclosures of different departments and public authorities without having to search each website separately.
Year-wise information
The uniform format, the court said, must include year-wise information on RTI applications received, disposed of and rejected; first and second appeals; penalties imposed; and disciplinary action recommended against Public Information Officers (PIOs) under Section 20 of the RTI Act for failure to furnish, or denial of, information sought under the Act.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued the directions while partly allowing a petition filed by Ramesh Babu N. of Bengaluru.
The petitioner had questioned the KIC’s refusal to provide data on PIOs against whom penalties had been imposed, the amount of penalty collected, and disciplinary action recommended.
The KIC had declined the information, stating that it was not maintained in the format sought by the petitioner.
The court said every department must identify its public authorities and ensure data collection under Section 25 (monitoring and reporting) of the RTI Act. Each authority must designate an officer responsible for keeping records updated.
Information has to be maintained electronically, allowing search, sorting and retrieval without manual examination of files, the court said.
On implementation
The court also directed the KIC to maintain on its official website a clearly identifiable section relating to “RTI implementation and compliance”.
Information relating to the functioning of the Commission, including appeals, complaints, penalties and recommendations under the Act, must be placed there in the prescribed format, subject to the provisions of the Act.
All public authorities should similarly maintain such information on their websites and update it at least once a year, the court said, pointing out that the RTI Act itself mandates proactive disclosure of several categories of information suo motu by public authorities.
Meanwhile, the court clarified that nothing in these directions requires disclosure of information exempt under the provisions of the RTI Act, nor do they create any new exemption from disclosure.
KIC asked to maintain searchable database on applications, appeals, penalties and compliance
The court also directed the KIC to establish on its website a central electronic repository or index through which citizens can locate RTI disclosures of different departments and public authorities without having to search each website separately.
Year-wise information
The uniform format, the court said, must include year-wise information on RTI applications received, disposed of and rejected; first and second appeals; penalties imposed; and disciplinary action recommended against Public Information Officers (PIOs) under Section 20 of the RTI Act for failure to furnish, or denial of, information sought under the Act.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued the directions while partly allowing a petition filed by Ramesh Babu N. of Bengaluru.
The petitioner had questioned the KIC’s refusal to provide data on PIOs against whom penalties had been imposed, the amount of penalty collected, and disciplinary action recommended.
The KIC had declined the information, stating that it was not maintained in the format sought by the petitioner.
The court said every department must identify its public authorities and ensure data collection under Section 25 (monitoring and reporting) of the RTI Act. Each authority must designate an officer responsible for keeping records updated.
Information has to be maintained electronically, allowing search, sorting and retrieval without manual examination of files, the court said.
On implementation
The court also directed the KIC to maintain on its official website a clearly identifiable section relating to “RTI implementation and compliance”.
Information relating to the functioning of the Commission, including appeals, complaints, penalties and recommendations under the Act, must be placed there in the prescribed format, subject to the provisions of the Act.
All public authorities should similarly maintain such information on their websites and update it at least once a year, the court said, pointing out that the RTI Act itself mandates proactive disclosure of several categories of information suo motu by public authorities.
Meanwhile, the court clarified that nothing in these directions requires disclosure of information exempt under the provisions of the RTI Act, nor do they create any new exemption from disclosure.
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