The Madras High Court has upheld an order requiring Tamil Nadu’s vigilance directorate to disclose records of an enquiry concerning a retired police officer.
Justice Hemant Chandangoudar held on 9 October that the agency’s exemption under Section 24(4) of the Right to Information Act does not extend to information concerning allegations of corruption or human-rights violations.
The state had also relied on the risk-to-sources exemption and the volume of material. The court found no basis for withholding the entire record. Identifying details of other officers could be masked, and exempt passages could be severed under Section 10.
Where a particular document contains confidential third-party information, the statutory consultation procedure must be followed. That requirement cannot justify suppressing the remaining disclosable material. The court confirmed the Information Commission’s order and dismissed the state’s petition.