Chhattisgarh High Court allows disclosure of self-defense inquiry records if no third-party privacy…

This digest summarizes six Right to Information (RTI) rulings from September 2026 issued by Indian High Courts and the Central Information Commission. It covers questions regarding the disclosure of police records, government service details, CCTV footage, and academic records, as well as the imposition of penalties and fees.

The rulings concern public authorities including the Punjab State Information Commission, government departments employing the estranged wife, universities, and RTI Officers. The applicants involved include citizens seeking FIR details for civil litigation, individuals seeking inquiry records for self-defense, a husband seeking his estranged wife's service details, an applicant seeking CCTV footage, a student seeking answer scripts, and an information seeker wishing to use third-party assistance for inspection.

• Third-party privacy exemptions (Section 8(1)(c) and 8(1)(j)) can override claims of pending civil litigation or self-defense if privacy is involved.
• CCTV footage covered by Section 8(1)(g) cannot be supplied directly to the applicant but may be accessed via court or commission.
• Penalties under Section 20 of the RTI Act require a categorical finding of mala fide withholding.
• Universities cannot levy internal fees for providing copies of answer scripts under RTI.
• Information seekers are impermissibly restricted from using third parties to inspect documents under the RTI Act.

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