The Times of India: Chandigarh: Sunday, 25 October 2026.
The Punjab State Information Commission has cautioned against using the Right to Information (RTI) Act to settle personal scores, observing that such applications can divert public authorities’ resources and obstruct their functioning.
The observations were made
by state information commissioner Bhupinder Batth while dismissing an appeal by
a Kapurthala resident seeking information about a govt-approved underground
pipeline in Jalandhar Kaulpur Minor from the chief engineer, canals, water
resources department.
The appellant had sought details of the pipeline’s approved length from the head to the tail of the canal outlet, beneficiary farmers, financial allocation and respective contributions of the govt and beneficiaries, as well as the number of openings and their distance from the head at RD 38315L.
During the hearing, the appellant maintained that complete information had not been provided. The department submitted that it had already supplied the information and that the deficiencies subsequently pointed out by the appellant differed from the queries in the original RTI application.
After examining the records, the commission found that the department had provided an appropriate response to three of the four queries relating to the pipeline’s length, funding and openings. The appellant remained dissatisfied with the response to the query seeking the list of beneficiary farmers.
The commission observed that the appellant was seeking redressal of a grievance through a second appeal, which fell beyond the scope of the RTI Act. “The information sought is purely for the purpose to settle personal scores,” the order stated.
The commission said it had a duty to prevent what it described as “blatant misuse” of the RTI Act, adding that such practices could undermine public faith in the law and prevent public authorities from focusing on transparency.
Describing the appellant’s actions as “fishing operations”, the commission termed them “a misuse rather abuse of the RTI Act with unsavoury motives”. It further observed that the cases before it were “vexatious and not bona fide” efforts to promote transparency and accountability.
The commission said dealing with such applications adversely affected the resources of public authorities. Finding the appeal devoid of merit, Batth ordered that the case be closed and disposed of.
The Punjab State Information Commission has cautioned against using the Right to Information (RTI) Act to settle personal scores, observing that such applications can divert public authorities’ resources and obstruct their functioning.
The appellant had sought details of the pipeline’s approved length from the head to the tail of the canal outlet, beneficiary farmers, financial allocation and respective contributions of the govt and beneficiaries, as well as the number of openings and their distance from the head at RD 38315L.
During the hearing, the appellant maintained that complete information had not been provided. The department submitted that it had already supplied the information and that the deficiencies subsequently pointed out by the appellant differed from the queries in the original RTI application.
After examining the records, the commission found that the department had provided an appropriate response to three of the four queries relating to the pipeline’s length, funding and openings. The appellant remained dissatisfied with the response to the query seeking the list of beneficiary farmers.
The commission observed that the appellant was seeking redressal of a grievance through a second appeal, which fell beyond the scope of the RTI Act. “The information sought is purely for the purpose to settle personal scores,” the order stated.
The commission said it had a duty to prevent what it described as “blatant misuse” of the RTI Act, adding that such practices could undermine public faith in the law and prevent public authorities from focusing on transparency.
Describing the appellant’s actions as “fishing operations”, the commission termed them “a misuse rather abuse of the RTI Act with unsavoury motives”. It further observed that the cases before it were “vexatious and not bona fide” efforts to promote transparency and accountability.
The commission said dealing with such applications adversely affected the resources of public authorities. Finding the appeal devoid of merit, Batth ordered that the case be closed and disposed of.
.JPG)
.JPG)
