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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Judgment reserved on: 11.03.2026 % Judgment delivered on: 08.04.2026 + LPA 113/2026 & CM APPL. 14743/2026 AMBIKA GUPTA .....Appellant Through: Appellant in person.

versus CPIO LIC OF INDIA .....Respondent Through: None.

CORAM:

HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA

J U D G M E N T

DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, C.J.

1. This intra-court appeal seeks to challenge the order dated 29.01.2026 passed by the learned Single Judge whereby, W.P.(C) 16122/2023 which was instituted by the respondent, has been disposed of with certain directions, modifying to a certain extent the order dated 27.06.2023, passed by the Chief Information Commissioner (hereinafter referred to as the „CIC’) on the second appeal preferred by the appellant.

2. The facts in brief which are relevant for the purposes of appropriate adjudication of the issues involved in this appeal are as under:

3. The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as the „RTI Act‟) on 29.03.2022 seeking certain information which is extracted herein below:

“Detail list of all the policies wherein I am the insured party made at any point in time during my lifetime. For purpose of the same I have attached all the relevant documents.”

4. The said application was considered by the respondent-Central Public Information Officer, Life Insurance Corporation of India (hereinafter referred to as the „CPIO’) who decided the application vide reply dated 31.03.2022 stating therein that since the base of LIC is the policy number issued to the life assured, without policy number the respondent-CPIO was unable to provide information sought by the appellant.

5. The relevant portion of the reply furnished by the respondent-CPIO to the application vide his letter dated 31.03.2022 is as under:

“Received your online RTI application on 29.03.2022. In this regard we have to inform you as under: -

The base of LIC is the policy number issued to the life assured, without policy number we are unable to provide you information sought by you.”

6. Dissatisfied by the said reply dated 31.03.2022 furnished by the respondent-CPIO, the appellant preferred a first appeal which was decided by the First Appellate Authority vide order dated 31.05.2022 whereby, the order passed by the respondent-CPIO dated 31.03.2022 was upheld.

7. The appellant, thereafter, filed a second appeal before the Central Information Commission, which was decided by the CIC vide order dated

27.06.2023.

8. The CIC in it‟s order dated 27.06.2023, observed that it is imperative for LIC to establish a system that facilitates the retrieval of policy and all data of policy holders, including cases where the policy number is not available, particularly in urgent situations. The CIC by the said order also directed the respondent-CPIO to take necessary measures to ensure disclosure of information concerning LIC Policy, even in instances where the policy number is not provided.

9. The CIC also while passing the said order dated 27.06.2023, advised the LIC to develop a robust system that will enable identification of the policies without policy numbers, specifically designed to address unforeseen circumstances, effectively. The CIC also directed the respondent-CPIO to furnish correct and complete information to the appellant.

10. The Managing Director of LIC was also furnished with a copy of the said order dated 27.06.2023 for information and necessary action with a further stipulation that the directions contained in the order shall be complied within four weeks under intimation to the Central Information Commission.

11. The respondent, aggrieved by the said order dated 27.06.2023, preferred W.P.(C) 16122/2023 before the learned Single Judge which was disposed of vide the impugned judgment and order dated 29.01.2026 whereby, it was observed that LIC ought to remain open to adopting measures to improve its database to ensure that its policy holders/insured parties hav