Wed Jan 08 20:26:28 UTC 2025: ## Central Information Commission Asserts Jurisdiction Over High Courts in RTI Cases
**Chennai, January 9, 2025** – The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that all High Courts in India fall under its jurisdiction regarding Right to Information (RTI) Act appeals, rejecting the argument that State Information Commissions should handle such cases.
The decision stems from an appeal by a petitioner who sought access to a writ petition file in the Madras High Court. The High Court’s CPIO argued that the CIC lacked jurisdiction and that the appeal should be filed with the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission, citing a Supreme Court precedent involving the Gujarat High Court.
However, Chief Information Commissioner Heeralal Samariya clarified that while the Central and State Information Commissions have separate jurisdictions, the constitution of High Courts falls under Parliament’s purview. He emphasized that the Parliament’s authority over High Courts, as enshrined in the Constitution, places them under the CIC’s jurisdiction for RTI matters.
While acknowledging that the CPIO’s actions were not malicious, the CIC ruled in favor of its own jurisdiction. The order establishes a significant precedent for future RTI appeals involving High Courts across the nation.
First Piper 