Public Information Officer Not Legally Bound To Start Investigative Process U/S 7 Of RTI Act: Kerala High Court

In a significant ruling that bolsters transparency in police functioning, the Kerala High Court has expanded the scope of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to include investigation records. The court held that RTI applications seeking details of investigations cannot be summarily rejected unless it is specifically demonstrated that such disclosure would directly impede an ongoing probe. The judgment mandates that public information officers should consider partial disclosure of information where feasible, thereby strengthening the public's right to know while still allowing for legitimate exemptions under Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, which permits withholding information that could hinder investigation or prosecution.