CIC Rules Advocates Cannot Use RTI to Obtain Information for Clients' Cases

The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled that advocates cannot use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to seek information related to cases they handle for clients. This decision arose from a dispute over a terminated fruits-and-vegetables supply contract at a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Haryana. The CIC, citing a Madras High Court ruling, emphasized that such use of RTI does not align with the Act's objectives and should not serve personal or professional interests. The commission noted the absence of justification for the supplier himself not filing the RTI request.