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Information must be precise, existing, and in a record or document; vague or non-specific queries are often rejected as not falling within Section 2(f).
Analysis and Conclusion:
References:- Satyaveer Singh vs Rajasthan Gramin Bank, Jodhpur, Rajasthan - 2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4208- V S S KRISHNA vs Life Insurance Corporation of India - 2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4023- Santosh Bagali vs State Bank of India, Vijayapur, Karnataka - 2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4200- ANAND PRAKASH MALL vs Ordnance Factory Board - 2024 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 3023
Section 2(f) of the RTI Act 2005 defines information as existing material in any form held by or under the control of a public authority. The courts have clarified that only existing records or data qualify; requests involving inference, compilation, or creation of new records do not fall within this definition.
The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) is a cornerstone of transparency in India, empowering citizens to seek information from public authorities. But what exactly qualifies as 'information' under this law? Many users, like those asking, Section 2 F of Rti i Need the Defeniantion Inromaiton, often seek clarity on Section 2(f), which provides a broad and inclusive definition. This post breaks down the provision, its scope, judicial interpretations, and practical implications to help you navigate RTI requests effectively.
Note: This is general information based on legal provisions and case law. It is not specific legal advice; consult a qualified lawyer for your situation.
Section 2(f) of the RTI Act defines 'information' expansively: information means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256
This definition is intentionally wide to promote accountability and openness. It goes beyond physical documents to include digital data and even information from private entities if a public authority can legally access it. The legislature aimed to cover not just what public authorities hold but what they can obtain under other laws, subject to preconditions and restrictions. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256
Key elements include:- Any material in any form: From paper records to electronic files. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256- Explicit list: Records, emails, opinions, contracts, samples, models, etc. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256- Private body extension: Crucially, it includes data from private bodies accessible via other statutes. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256
Courts have emphasized that 'information' isn't restricted to what a public authority physically 'holds.' Instead, it covers material under its 'control' or legally accessible. The relationship is like ownership or bailment—possession isn't required if there's a legal right to access. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256
For instance, Section 2(f) clarifies that accessibility depends on the public authority's powers under other laws. This promotes transparency without overriding existing prohibitions unless Section 22 of the RTI Act applies, which gives the RTI overriding effect in inconsistencies. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256
In practice, if a regulation allows a public body to demand records from a private firm (e.g., under tax or environmental laws), that falls within RTI scope, barring Section 8 exemptions. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256
A standout feature is information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force. This extends RTI's reach beyond government vaults. However, access must satisfy legal preconditions, and restrictions persist unless explicitly overridden. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256
Judicial views reinforce this. In one case, the Central Information Commission scrutinized denials where CPIOs claimed sought details were INFORMATION SOUGHT IS NOT AN INFORMATION AS PER SECTION 2(f) OF RTI ACT 2005, directing provision of policy-related info free of cost after accessing records. Divyank Dixit vs CPIO, United India Insurance Co. Ltd. - 2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4392
Similarly, definitions of related terms like 'record' in Section 2(i) support this breadth: record includes... any other material produced by a computer or any other device. CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER VS HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT - 2020 8 Supreme 160
Courts and commissions have shaped Section 2(f)'s application:
Public authorities 'hold' information if they have dominion or right to access it. This broadens scope beyond mere possession. Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 1256
The wide definition doesn't nullify other laws' bans; Section 22 overrides only inconsistencies. For example, in exam-related RTIs, answer-books qualify as 'information' unless exempted under Section 8(1)(e) as fiduciary. Examining bodies must allow inspection if no exemption applies, severing examiner identities under Section 8(1)(g) or 10. Central Board of Secondary Education VS Aditya Bandopadhyay - 2011 Supreme(Ori) 259
Vague rejections citing Section 2(f) are frowned upon. In a case, the Commission noted obligations under Sections 4(1)(b), 8(1)(d), directing free provision sans unjust costs. Divyank Dixit vs CPIO, United India Insurance Co. Ltd. - 2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4392
Penalties under Section 20 apply for mala fide denials, but only if without reasonable cause; quantum is discretionary. Pooja V. Shah VS Bank of India - 2023 Supreme(Del) 5673Sunny Sachdeva VS Acp (North) , Rti Cell - 2024 Supreme(Del) 625
High Courts distinguish judicial vs. administrative info: Judicial side info (litigants' personal data) follows court rules like Gujarat High Court Rule 151, not bypassing via RTI without inconsistency. CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER VS HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT - 2020 8 Supreme 160
Another ruling quotes Section 2(f) directly in vacancy disputes, stressing material form relevance. MUHAMMED SIYAD P. A. VS SREEJITH APPU - 2016 Supreme(Ker) 288
In banking or insurance RTIs, demands for orders or policies often succeed if 'information' per 2(f). ALOM HUSSAIN vs United Commercial Bank (UCO) - 2024 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4327
The RTI Act's goal is empowered citizens holding power accountable. Understanding Section 2(f) is your first step. For deeper queries, explore full texts or seek professional guidance.
References:1. Detailed scope analysis Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India VS Subhash Chandra Agarwal - 2019 0 Supreme(SC) 12562. Inclusive nature discussion FERANI HOTELS PVT. LTD. VS STATE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER GREATER MUMBAI - 2018 0 Supreme(SC) 9513. CIC orders on denials Divyank Dixit vs CPIO, United India Insurance Co. Ltd. - 2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 43924. Penalty contexts Pooja V. Shah VS Bank of India - 2023 Supreme(Del) 5673Sunny Sachdeva VS Acp (North) , Rti Cell - 2024 Supreme(Del) 625
#RTIAct,#Section2f,#RightToInformation
In the opinion of this court, appropriate action has been taken against the concerned personnel and there is no need for imposition of a monetary penalty against the personnel under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act. 18. ... The petitioner has also sought punishment against the respondents for failure in providing true and correct information in response to the abovementioned RTI Applications. 2. ... The only surviving grievance of the petitioner therefore is that a proper penalty should be imposed on the co....
REPLY TO POINT NO. 2 INFORMATION SOUGHT IS NOT AN INFORMATION AS PER SECTION 2(f) OF RTI ACT 2005. ... REPLY TO POINT NO.9 INFORMATION SOUGHT IS NOT AN INFORMATION AS PER SECTION 2(f) OF RTI ACT 2005. REPLY TO POINT NO.10 INFORMATION SOUGHT IS NOT AN INFORMATION AS PER SECTION 2(f) OF RTI ACT 2005.” ... CIC/UIICL/A/2024/634674, free of cost to the Appellant, after accessing the same from the concerned record hold....
Section 20 of the RTI Act reads as under: "Section 20. Penalties. ... 20 (1) of RTI Act, c) Issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ thereby directing to pass order on Disciplinary action against Respondent Bank CPIOs as per Section 20 (2) of RTI Act, d) Issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ ... Issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ thereby directing to pass order on Disciplinary action against CPIO of Respondent B....
He had also obtained the information under the Right to Information Act and had filed a false complaint against the informant to pressurize him. Hence, the present accused had committed an offence punishable under Section 120B of IPC. Consequently, a challan was filed before the Court. ... 2. Briefly stated, the facts giving rise to the present revision are that respondent No.2/complainant made a complaint to the police stating that Savita — wife of the informant— had lodged an FIR No.289/2015 against Rishi Bhardwaj, wh....
The sought information is not clear and specific, hence does not form Information within the provisions of Sec. 2(f) of the RTI Act 2005 . 3. ... The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 25.09.2024 seeking information on the following points: 1. Notional fitment chart under grant of computer increment till retirement 2. ... Revised gratuity payment order as per last salary scale – V Satyaveer Singh Bank ID No. 3019 2. ... 2. The letter regarding increment/stagnation for each year ....
(iv) I applied on 08/11/2021 to UCO bank Head office financial inclusion for Dudhnath CSP re-open.so I need order copy. (v) I applied on 23/03/2021 to UCO bank Head office financial inclusion for Dudhnath CSP re-open.so I need order copy.”…etc. 2. ... The CPIO UCO Bank, Nodal CPIO, RTI Cell, Zonal Office: Guwahati, M. R. D. Road, Silpukhuri, Guwahati, Assam- 78103 2. ... Alom Hussain Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:- Nil ....
But as per the present matter suggestions are not answered under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act. 8. ... In this regard, the Appellant’s attention is drawn towards a judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on the scope and ambit of Section 2(f) of RTI Act in the matter of CBSE vs. ... For better understanding of the mandate of the RTI Act, the Appellant shall note that outstretching the interpretation of Section 2(f) of the RT....
2 (f) OF THE RTI Act 2005.” ... Compiling the information sought for the sake of this RTI Application would amount to creation of a new record, which is not mandated under RTI Act, 2005. Hence, the information as defined under Section 2(i) & 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005 is not maintained and cannot be provided. ... Compiling the information sought for the sake of this RTI Application would amount to creation of a new record, which is n....
However, the queries raised thereof were in the form of questions which were not covered within the definition of “information” under Section 2 (f) of the RTI Act. Besides, the subject-matter of the RTI application did not pertain to CPPC, since their role was limited to disbursement of pension. ... Also the information sought related to third party and is held by the Bank in fiduciary capacity, disclosure of which is exempted under Section 8(1)(e) and (j) of the RTI Act, 2005 .” ... ....
G-24, G-24 A Marina Arcade Connaught Circus Connaught Place, New Delhi Under the Right to Information Act 2005, Section 6, I need some information. The details of the information are as below. ... In the meantime, the Commission directs the present PIO to examine the instant RTI Application and provide point-wise information to the Appellant, strictly in consonance with the provisions of the RTI Act, after accessing the same from the concerned department under Section 5(4) of the #HL_S....
In this Act, unless, the context otherwise requires,- ……………. (i) "record" includes (i) any document, manuscript and file; (ii) any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy of a document; (iii) any reproduction of image or images embodied in such microfilm (whether enlarged or not); and (iv) any other material produced by a computer or any other device; (j) "right to information" means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to (i) inspection of work, documents, records; (ii)taking notes, extracts ....
8. Before proceeding further, it will be useful to refer to certain provisions of the RTI Act. Sections 2(f), 2(i) and 2(j) of the RTI Act read as under:- “Sec.2(f) "Information" means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force.”
It is in that context that in para 13, it was observed: “13. within the meaning of Section 2(h)(d)(i) of the RTI Act. There the question was whether a multi-state cooperative society is a „public authority? Before embarking on a more detailed analysis it is necessary to recapitulate the law concerning interpretation of the conjunctive “and includes”.
Provided that except in the case of trade or commercial secrets protected by law, disclosure may be allowed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs in importance any possible harm or injury to the interests of such third party.” (h)“public authority” means any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted- The definitions of information, public authority, record and right to information in clauses (f), (h), (i) and (j) of section 2 of the RTI Act are extracted below: “(f)“information” means any material in any form, including records,....
This Court would first like to note that for the purposes of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, two distinct submissions were made in support of the plea that IFCI Ltd. is a „public authority?. One relates to Section 2(h)(b) RTI Act and the second relates to Section 2(h)(d)(i) RTI Act.
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