Advocates can not use RTI for client cases, says CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that advocates cannot use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to seek details regarding cases they are handling for clients, observing that using the transparency law in this manner fails to advance its core objectives.

Dismissing a second appeal filed by an advocate in a dispute related to the termination of a fruits-and-vegetables supply contract at a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Haryana, Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi noted that the appellant had sought information “on behalf of his brother, who used to be the supplier of vegetables/fruits to the respondent public authority”.

The commission said in the absence of any explanation as to why the supplier himself could not seek the information, “it appears that the appellant has sought information on behalf of his client per se, which is not permissible”.

Quoting a Madras High Court order, the CIC underlined that “a practising advocate cannot seek information relating to the cases instituted by him on behalf of his client”.