Service Records Cannot be Disclosed Under RTI Without Larger Public Interest: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court held that service records of employees constitute “personal information” exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, unless a larger public interest justifies such disclosure.

Setting aside an order of the State Information Commission directing disclosure of a police officer’s service records, the Court observed that information relating to service history, promotions, and related employment matters falls within the protected sphere of privacy between employer and employee.

It further emphasised that authorities must follow the safeguards under Section 11 of the RTI Act before directing disclosure of third-party information.

[Narsing Ganpatrao Ankushkar v. Balaji Pandharinath Thorat & Ors.]