Madras High Court has said that RTI applicants must give reasons for seeking information as it gave relief to its Registry from disclosing file notings on a complaint against a Chief Metropolitan magistrate. A division bench comprising justices N. Paul Vasanthakumar and K. Ravichandrababu said an applicant must disclose the object for which information is sought and also satisfy that such object has a legal backing.
Legal experts and activists have decried the court's decision which may have far reaching implications on getting information under the RTI Act. Legislature while passing the RTI Act had specially incorporated Section 6(2) which says an applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information.
