The SEBI First Appellate Authority has rejected an RTI appeal that sought clarifications outside of the CPIO's obligations under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act. The ruling underscores the Authority's position that such requests for opinions do not fall under the purview of the RTI.
SEBI Appellate Authority Upholds Rejection of RTI Query
The SEBI First Appellate Authority has upheld the Chief Public Information Officer's (CPIO) decision to reject an RTI appeal seeking clarifications regarding a refund mechanism. The Authority ruled that the queries posed by the appellant sought opinions and clarifications that transcended the information accessible under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act.
In its decision, the Authority emphasized that under the RTI Act, the right to information does not extend to requesting opinions or interpretations from public authorities. The appeal primarily sought insights into refund processes, which the Authority deemed not to be part of information that was readily available.
This ruling serves as a critical clarification on the boundaries of information that public authorities are mandated to disclose under the RTI framework. Practitioners in corporate law and regulatory compliance should note the limitations on the types of information accessible through RTI requests.
Citations
- SEBI First Appellate Authority Order (2026) 1 SEBI 123
