Central Information Commission ruled advocates cannot use RTI for client cases

In January 2026, the Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled that practicing advocates cannot use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to seek information related to cases they are handling for their clients.

The ruling stemmed from an advocate's appeal concerning a supply contract dispute. The Information Commissioner observed that the advocate requested information for a client without explaining why the client could not file the request as a citizen. The CIC determined that the RTI Act is for promoting governmental transparency, not for use as a professional tool in legal practice or for gathering evidence. The decision cited a Madras High Court judgment stating that advocates, while able to seek information as citizens, cannot do so for clients to prevent the Act from being used for private litigation. The CIC emphasized that the RTI Act's goals should not be exploited for personal or professional benefit and pointed out that existing legal processes in courts and tribunals are available for obtaining case-relevant records.