Bombay High Court Holds RTI Act Does Not Require Public Authorities to Collect Information from Private Bodies

Case Snapshot 

• Case Name: Securities and Exchange Board of India v. Yogesh Babulal Mehta & Ors. (with connected matters)

• Citation: Writ Petition No. 1664/2009 & connected matters (2026:BHC-OS:18434)

• High Court: High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Ordinary Original Civil Jurisdiction

• Bench: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Manish Pitale and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Shreeram V. Shirsat

• Date of Judgment: 18th August, 2026

• Area of Law: Right to Information Act, Public Authority, Information Access

Judgment Headline

Court quashes CIC orders, holds RTI Act does not require public authorities to collect information from private bodies.

The Judgment in One Line

Bombay High Court quashed CIC orders, holding that under the RTI Act, a public authority is not obliged to collect information from private bodies.

Why This Judgment Matters

This landmark judgment clarifies the scope of a public authority's obligation under the RTI Act. It establishes that public authorities like SEBI are only required to furnish information

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