Cooperative Society Cannot Deny RTI Information To Member As 'Personal' If Registrar Can Access Such Records : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled that members of cooperative societies retain the right to access information regarding the society's affairs under the Right to Information Act, even if the entity itself is not classified as a "public authority." This judgment clarifies that the inability to invoke standard public authority exemptions does not justify withholding records from individuals with a direct stake in the organization. Consequently, members cannot be denied access simply because the information is deemed internal or unrelated to broader public interest. The Court reasoned that since public authorities, such as the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, possess statutory powers to inspect the documents of these entities, the information falls within the scope of the RTI Act. Therefore, the obligation to disclose extends to the members who are similarly entitled to view what the supervising authority can access. This legal linkage ensures that transparency mechanisms applicable to state oversight also protect the informational rights of society participants, preventing the concealment of records under the guise of private organizational autonomy. This decision is significant for open data principles as it establishes that access rights can extend to private or semi-private bodies when a public authority has oversight. It reinforces the idea that transparency is not strictly limited to government agencies but includes entities subject to significant public regulation. By affirming that relevant contractual and meeting details are accessible to members, the ruling promotes accountability and ensures that stakeholders can monitor operations effectively, thereby enhancing trust and openness within cooperative structures.

Source: livelaw.in
Published on 2026-10-27

Cooperative Society Cannot Deny RTI Information To Member As 'Personal' If Registrar Can Access Such Records : Supreme Court

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