NEW DELHI, JAN 18: The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled advocates cannot invoke the Right to Information (RTI) Act for details on client cases they’re handling, stating such use defeats the transparency law’s main goals.
Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi rejected a second appeal by an advocate over a Haryana Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya’s cancellation of his brother’s fruits-and-vegetables supply contract. The lawyer sought info “on behalf of his brother, who used to be supplier of vegetables/fruits to the respondent public authority.”
CIC observed that without explanation why the supplier couldn’t file himself, “it appears that the appellant has sought information on behalf of his client per se, which is not permissible.”
Citing a Madras High Court order, CIC stressed “a practising advocate cannot seek information relating to the cases instituted by him on behalf of his client.”
The High Court warned otherwise, “every practising advocate would invoke the provisions of the RTI Act for getting information on behalf of his client,” which “does not advance the objects of the scheme of the RTI Act.”
CIC added the ruling’s point: RTI’s “laudable objectives… cannot be used for personal ends and should not become a tool in the hands of the advocate for seeking all kinds of information in order to promote his practice.”
Noting the authority’s claims of fire-destroyed records and valid exemptions for personal info, CIC found “no infirmity in the reply furnished by the CPIO.”
Appeal dismissed; written submissions shared with appellant.
