Allahabad High Court imposes ₹6.7 lakh costs on RTI misuse litigant

This digest summarizes eight Right to Information (RTI) rulings from August 2026 issued by various High Courts in India. It covers legal questions regarding the scope of public authority obligations, the classification of private versus public documents, and penalties for the misuse of the RTI Act.

The rulings concern public authorities such as local bodies, the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC), and general government offices. The applicants involved include RTI petitioners, activists who filed thousands of appeals, and litigants accused of misusing the Act or disturbing court proceedings.

• Public authorities are not obliged to collect information from private bodies to satisfy applicants.
• Private documents stored in public offices do not automatically become public documents under the RTI Act.
• Approved building plans by local bodies are not considered 'personal information' and can be disclosed.
• Non-supply of RTI information after election results is not a 'corrupt practice' under the Representation of the People Act.
• Communications from competent authorities prevail over information received via RTI if unrebutted.
• RTI applicants cannot be accompanied by a third party to inspect records if they are not conversant with the language or content.
• Filing vague RTI applications and disturbing court proceedings constitutes misuse of the Act.

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