Information regarding GST returns of company cannot be disclosed under RTI Act: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court ruled that GST return details of a private company are confidential and cannot be disclosed under the Right to Information Act. The Court reasoned that such information constitutes commercial confidence and personal data protected under Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act. It clarified that disclosure could harm competitive positions and breach statutory confidentiality obligations under GST law. However, the Court observed that authorities may release aggregated or anonymized data when public interest clearly outweighs confidentiality. This ruling reaffirms the boundaries between transparency and privacy in financial governance, emphasizing that RTI rights must be balanced with data protection and commercial interests. It also sets an important precedent for handling sensitive business information under transparency laws.