Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2026 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4915

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Sudha Rani Relangi, Information Commissioner
Vinay Goyal – Appellant
Versus
CPIO Indian Institute Of Technology Kanpur – Respondent
CIC/IITKP/A/2025/608255

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Vinay Goyal
For the Respondents: Pradeep Prakash

Marks obtained by candidates in public selection processes are subject to transparency and cannot be withheld under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, whereas limited question banks for competitive exams remain exempt to preserve the integrity of the selection process.

Headnote:(A) Right to Information Act, 2005 - Section 8(1)(j) - Disclosure of candidate marks - Holding that selection processes must be transparent, the commission directed the disclosure of marks of selected candidates as such information is not personal information lacking relationship to public activity or interest. (Paras 11, 12)

(B) Right to Information Act, 2005 - Section 8(1)(j) - Disclosure of question papers and answer keys - Where examination question banks are limited and analytical in nature, disclosure of question papers and model answers is exempted to preserve the integrity of the examination process. (Paras 14-18)

Facts of the case:
The Appellant sought information regarding examination marks, cut-off marks, question papers, answer keys, and his own answer sheets pertaining to recruitment examinations for the JTS (ACMS) post. The CPIO denied disclosure of marks and question papers, citing privacy concerns and the sensitive nature of the question bank respectively, which led to this second appeal.

Findings of Court:
The Commission upheld the denial of question papers and answer keys but directed that the CPIO disclose the marks of selected candidates, as transparency in public recruitment outweighs privacy concerns under Section 8(1)(j).

Issues: Whether the marks of candidates in a public recruitment process are exempt from disclosure and whether analytical question papers with limited question banks can be withheld.

Ratio Decidendi: Public recruitment processes must be transparent; thus, marks of selected candidates do not constitute protected personal information. However, disclosure of limited question banks or analytical question papers is prohibited to maintain the efficacy and integrity of the examination process.

Result: Appeal disposed of with directions.

Table of Content
1. summary of rti request and procedural history of the appeal. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8)
2. transparency in public recruitment mandates disclosure of marks for selected candidates. (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12)
3. confidentiality of limited question banks is protected to prevent compromise of selection integrity. (Para 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18)

Relevant facts emerging from appeal:

RTI application filed on : 24.11.2024

CPIO replied on : 17.12.2024

First appeal filed on : 07.01.2025

First Appellate Authority’s order : 30.01.2025

2nd Appeal dated : Nil

Information sought:

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 24.11.2024 seeking the following information:

“Kindly provide me with the following details regarding the JTS (ACMS) post with post code: 9A examination conducted by IIT Kanpur on 13th Nov 2024 with advertisement number 01/2023.

1. Please provide the marks (Part A and Part B separately) obtained by all candidates who appeared for the JTS post examination.

2. Please provide the cut-off marks used for selecting candidates for the Job oriented practical test(JOPT).

3. Kindly provide the question paper and the answer key for the JTS post examination.

4. Please provide a copy of my answer sheet (both Part A and Part B). My details are as follows:

Name: Vinay Goyal

Roll Number: 10

Kindly also provide the following details regarding the JTS (ACMS) post with post code: 7A examination conducted by IIT Kanpur on 19th July 2022 with advertisement number 01/2021.

1. Please provide the marks (Part A and Part B separately) obtained by all candidates who appeared for the JTS post examination.

2. Please provide the cut-off marks (Category wise) used for selecting candidates for the Job oriented practical test(JOPT).

3. Kindly provide the question paper and the answer key for the examination.

4. Kindly provide the final result for the JTS (ACMS) post.

4. Please provide a copy of my answer sheet. My details are as follows:

Name: Vinay Goyal

Roll Number: 103”

2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 17.12.2024 stating as under:

“In this regard, as per the information received from the concerned departments, Point wise reply for JTS-ACMS against Advt. No.01/2021 is appended below:

1. Marks obtained by the other candidates are personal information of an individual, which has no relationship with any public activity or interest, and it is an unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the other candidates. Accordingly, disclosure of information is exempted under section 8(1)(j) respectively of the RTI Act, 2005.

2. Cut off marks in Written Test for JOPT: UR-81.25, EWS-75, SC-72.75.

3. Question papers are of analytical in nature, if it is disclosed; the same will give undue advantage to someone who receives it. Therefore, the same cannot be provided.

More so, the Hon'ble Central Information Commission (CIC) vide its judgment No. CIC/IITMD/A/2017/606359 dated 14.03.2019; passed in the matter of Deepa C Vs. Registrar & CPIO, IIT Madras and judgment No. CIC/IITKP/A/2022/612066 dated 15.05.2023, passed in the matter of Ajay Kumar Vs. CPIO, IIT Kanpur, can be referred.

4. The results can be seen by login at Recruitment Portal.

5. The copy of the Answer Sheet is in 07 pages.

Further, to obtain the aforesaid photocopies as stated in point No. 5, you are required to remit Rs. 14/- (Rs. 2/- per page) towards the photocopy charges.”

3. Aggrieved by the decision of the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 07.01.2025. The FAA vide its order dated 30.01.2025, upheld the reply of the CPIO.

4. Challenging the FAA’s order, Appellant is before the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.

Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:

The following were present:-

Appellant: Shri Vinay Goyal present through audio-conference.

Respondent: Shri Pradeep Prakash, Asst. Registrar present through video conference.

5. Written statement of the CPIO is taken on record.

6. Appellant stated that he is aggrieved by the fact that satisfactory

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2026 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4915

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSIONSudha Rani Relangi, Information CommissionerVinay Goyal – AppellantVersusCPIO Indian Institute Of Technology Kanpur – RespondentCIC/IITKP/A/2025/608255

Marks obtained by candidates in public selection processes are subject to transparency and cannot be withheld under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, whereas limited question banks for competitive exams remain exempt to preserve the integrity of the selection process.

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Sudha Rani Relangi, Information Commissioner
Vinay Goyal – Appellant
Versus
CPIO Indian Institute Of Technology Kanpur – Respondent
CIC/IITKP/A/2025/608255