The Central Information Commission (CIC) rejected an appeal by an advocate who sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the termination of a fruits and vegetables supply contract at a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Haryana. The CIC stated that an advocate cannot use the RTI mechanism to seek information on behalf of a client. Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi highlighted that the advocate had requested details on behalf of his brother, a supplier to the school, without providing a valid reason for doing so.
In its decision, the CIC cited a Madras High Court ruling stating that a practicing advocate can seek information as a citizen but not on behalf of a client. The CIC emphasized that the RTI Act should not be misused by advocates for personal gains. The commission reiterated the court’s view that the RTI Act’s objectives should not be exploited for personal purposes.
The advocate had requested extensive information dating back to 2019, including various documents related to the supply contract. The school authorities informed that many records were destroyed in a fire, making them unavailable for disclosure. The CPIO denied sharing certain personal information under the RTI Act’s provisions and clarified that the contract was terminated due to supply deficiencies despite warnings issued.
The CIC upheld the CPIO’s response as compliant with the RTI Act and directed the CPIO to provide the advocate with copies of his submissions promptly. In line with the RTI Act’s principles, the CIC instructed the CPIO to furnish the requested documents to the advocate without any charges. Information Commissioner Relangi concluded by stating that no further involvement of the Commission was necessary.
