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Can't seek spouse's income details under RTI Act: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court ruled that an individual cannot obtain details of their spouse's income via the RTI Act if the information is personal and lacks public interest. It set aside a CIC order directing disclosure of the husband's next taxable income for FY 2007-2008, and emphasized that maintenance disputes should be adjudicated with affidavits of income, assets, and liabilities.
Why It Matters
The decision narrows RTI access to private financial information in family disputes and reinforces privacy protections, while acknowledging alternative legal remedies in maintenance cases.
Timeline
3 Events
Article published reporting the judgment
May 3, 2026
News article published describing the Delhi High Court ruling, including the court's reasoning that maintenance disputes should be resolved with affidavits of income, assets, and liabilities and that both parties have legal remedies.
Delhi High Court judgment sets aside CIC order
April 28, 2026
The Delhi High Court ruled that the sought information is the petitioner's personal information under Section 8 of the RTI Act and cannot be disclosed since it does not meet the public interest exception. The court set aside the CIC order as unsustainable in law and stated that while RTI promotes transparency, it should not disclose private data with no bearing on the public.
CIC order directs disclosure of spouse's next taxable income under RTI
2021
The Central Information Commission directed income tax authorities to reveal the petitioner's next taxable income for financial year 2007-2008 in response to an RTI application filed by his estranged wife; the husband challenged this CIC order.