Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Madras High Court Clarifies RTI Disclosure of Routine Info
The Madras High Court said that most information about how the court runs is public.
A man named Akbar Ahamed asked for details about a committee that helps the court.
The court said it must give him the names, jobs, and salaries of the committee members, but not how they behave.
The judge also said that the salaries are public because they come from taxpayers.
The court told the court staff to give the information in two weeks.
Justice M Dhandapani ruled that routine administrative info cannot be withheld under the RTI Act unless it meets Section 8 exemptions.
The ruling applied to a request for details about the Madras High Court’s Party‑in‑Person Committee and administrative committee.
The court ordered the registrar to provide names, qualifications, pay, and functions of committee members, but not their conduct details.
A correction order clarified that the salary information concerned registrars and registry officers, not judges.
The decision emphasizes that public funds and taxpayer information must be disclosed unless a specific exemption applies.
- Who
- Justice M Dhandapani and the Madras High Court registrar general
- What
- A ruling that routine administrative information cannot be withheld under the RTI Act unless it falls under Section 8 exemptions
- When
- June 15, 2024 (judgment) and July 27, 2024 (correction order)
- Where
- Madras High Court, Chennai, India
- Why
- To clarify that routine administrative data is public and not exempt under Section 8
- Court
- Madras High Court
- Judge
- Justice M Dhandapani
- Ruling Date
- June 15, 2024
- Act
- Right to Information Act
- Outcome
- Registrar must provide all requested info except conduct details