HC strikes down Punjab RTI ban on activist Manjinder Singh, reinforces citizens' right to know
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 10, 2025: In a ruling likely to shape the future interpretation of citizens’ Right to Information (RTI) in India, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has overturned the Punjab State Information Commission’s decision to bar activist Manjinder Singh from filing RTI applications for one year.
The court’s decision reinforces that even frequent RTI users cannot be denied their statutory rights without proven misconduct, setting an important legal precedent for transparency and accountability cases.
Also Read: RTI activist banned for filling application by Punjab State Information Commission
The ban, imposed on January 8, 2025, by State Information Commissioner Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, came after the Commission heard around 70 RTI appeals submitted by Singh.
The Commission alleged that Singh’s applications were “fabricated” and aimed at blackmailing government employees, influencing official work, and misusing the RTI mechanism for personal gain.
Citing these allegations and earlier court observations in similar matters, the Commission not only prohibited Singh from filing RTIs for a year but also annulled penalties and compensation earlier awarded to the respondent government officials in certain cases. It further instructed public authorities to disregard future RTIs from him if they were repetitive or excessively burdensome.
Singh challenged the order in court, asserting that his applications were filed strictly in the public interest and related to issues of safety, governance, and compliance — including the installation of speed governors in passenger buses and the issuance of permits to vehicles operating without valid licences.
He argued that transparency in such matters was crucial for public safety and accountability, and that the Commission’s action effectively silenced legitimate scrutiny of government functioning.
Click to read copy of the order of State Information Commissioner:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LlqxbdrEWeMNVQqRWVN9WARC_S8YQFQF/view?usp=sharing
Click to read copy of the order of HC:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TsEm8m4td4VOC04fbWpiA2tUFPGjTi4H/view?usp=sharing
In its July 9, 2025 ruling, Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi found no conclusive evidence of misconduct or abuse of the RTI process by Singh. The court declared the ban “not in public interest” and inconsistent with the objectives of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
It directed the State Information Commission to process all future applications from Singh on their individual merit — either granting information sought or issuing a reasoned written refusal as per the law.
Read Order copy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_lcLz2hC8auiBZsaYgyVWcRMnXInG1gO/view?usp=sharing
The High Court also addressed a broader concern raised by the state — that Singh’s numerous and voluminous RTIs placed a burden on government departments.
The court made it clear that the frequency or volume of applications cannot, by itself, justify a blanket ban. Instead, each RTI request must be judged on its own substance, and any denial must meet the legal requirements under Section 8 or 9 of the RTI Act.
This judgment carries implications far beyond Singh’s individual case. It serves as a caution to information commissions across the country against imposing sweeping restrictions on citizens’ access to information without solid legal grounds.
It is worth mentioning that even after the HC order, earlier order of the commission is still seen upoloaded in the form of a news item on the website of The Punjab Information Commission.
One more fact to noted.The former SIC had directed the Regional Transport Authority vide orders dated 27.09.2023 to register the FIR in three appeal cases of 'missing record' at RTA office, Faridkot within 15 days. But there was no compliance of orders of PSIC by the RTA and the cases were disposed of by the incumbent SIC on 08.01.2025 with unresolved matter.