RTI Exemption Applies to Judicial Officers’ Service Records: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that service records of judicial officers, including educational and service certificates, complaints, and details of departmental inquiries, are exempt from disclosure under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

The ruling arose from petitions challenging directions issued by the State Information Commission to disclose such information relating to three judicial officers.

The Court held that the material constituted “personal information” protected under Sections 8(1)(j) and 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act and could not be disclosed in the absence of any overriding public interest.

The Court accordingly quashed the SIC’s directions.

[High Court of Chhattisgarh v. Rajkumar Mishra & Anr.]