Question: I want to know if it is possible for me to gather information through RTI. Actually I want to gather some information about my company. It is a software company doing illegal business in hush-hush. Its daily activity is doubtful because it is manipulating personal information of clients without their consent. Thus I need information about the activity of non government firm through RTI? The suspicious activities are relating to its operations during lockdown.
Asked from: Karnataka
You cannot access information towards the private entities. The Right to Information Act is applicable in government and public sector entities. Any citizen can seek information about the affairs of state which is not protected under Section 8 of the RTI Act. Sensitive information has been blocked and kept them out of reach to the citizens.
If the information, however, belongs to the domain of private entities but the government has the right to access them, you can seek that information under the RTI. This is a slight change in the access of information pertaining to the private sector.
When the information is under the control of the private sector but in the public interest the government can fetch that information, the Indian citizen can seek that information under the Right to Information Act.
Also read: Get call detail record through RTI
If the information you actually want to seek from the private firm, meets the above said conditions then you can get that information through the RTI. You should file an application with requisite fee to the Ministry of Company Affair. The ministry will provide that information after fetching it from the private company.
Manipulation of personal data is a serious issue. It is in the larger public interest to seek that information from the private company. Then the government will provide you with that information.
