Husband Salary RTI Case: <\/em>Justice Kuldeep Mathur<\/strong> of the Rajasthan High Court<\/a><\/strong> at Jodhpur dismissed a writ petition filed by a woman who sought salary details and pay slips<\/strong> of a government employee under the Right to Information Act<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court clearly held that such service records are \u201cpersonal information\u201d and cannot be disclosed casually.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The petitioner had applied under RTI seeking salary details for a specific period. The department rejected the request on the grounds that the information was personal in nature and related to a third party. The matter was then brought before the High Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After hearing the case and examining the material on record, Justice Kuldeep Mathur observed that the information sought was, \u201cpersonal in nature, pertains to a third party, and is therefore exempted from disclosure under the provisions of the RTI Act.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court further stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis Court finds no illegality or infirmity in the action of the respondents in refusing to supply the information relating to a third party.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Court relied on the Supreme Court judgment in Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. Central Information Commissioner & Ors.<\/em><\/strong>, (2013) 1 SCC 212, where it was held that information relating to the performance and service matters of an employee is primarily between the employer and the employee and falls within the category of personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this case, the High Court found that the petitioner had not shown a greater public interest<\/strong>. Therefore, the employee’s salary details remained protected. The Court held that disclosure of such personal service information has no direct connection with public activity or public interest.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In view of these findings, Justice Kuldeep Mathur concluded that there was no merit in the writ petition and dismissed it. The stay petition was also disposed of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Explanatory Table: Laws & Sections Involved<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Law \/ Provision<\/strong><\/td> Purpose<\/strong><\/td> Court\u2019s Interpretation in Case<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead> Article 226, Constitution of India<\/a><\/strong><\/td> Empowers High Courts to issue writs for enforcement of rights<\/td> Petition filed seeking quashing of RTI orders and direction to provide information<\/td><\/tr> Right to Information Act, 2005<\/a><\/strong><\/td> Grants citizens access to public authority information<\/td> Salary details held to be personal information of a third party and exempt from disclosure<\/td><\/tr> RTI Exemption Principles (Personal Information doctrine)<\/strong><\/td> Protects privacy of individuals where disclosure has no public interest<\/td> Court held salary\/service details fall within personal information category<\/td><\/tr> Supreme Court precedent \u2014 Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC (2013) 1 SCC 212<\/strong><\/td> Defines employee service records as personal information unless larger public interest exists<\/td> Relied upon to justify refusal of salary disclosure<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Case Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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