RTI for Judiciary & Courts (2025 Guide)

The judiciary is a pillar of democracy. While judicial decisions are exempt from RTI scrutiny, citizens can still access administrative records, certified copies, recruitment details, and infrastructure information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

Where RTI Applies in Courts

• Certified Copies: Obtain certified orders, judgments, and case documents.
• Recruitment: Request details of vacancies, merit lists, and selection processes in courts.
• Case Status: Get file movement details and pendency statistics (not judicial reasoning).
• Infrastructure: Access sanctioned budgets for court construction, technology, and digitization.
• Vacancies: Demand data on sanctioned vs. filled posts of judges and staff.

Sample RTI Queries for Judiciary

• Please provide certified copy of order/judgment in case no. ___ decided by court ___.
• Please provide certified copies of recruitment notification and merit list for court staff recruitment in year ___.
• Please provide pendency statistics of civil/criminal cases in district court ___ as of date ___.
• Please provide budget allocation and expenditure details for digitization of records in High Court ___.
• Please provide vacancy details of sanctioned posts of judges in High Court ___ as on date ___.

Authorities You Can File With

• High Courts: For certified copies, recruitment, infrastructure, and vacancy data.
• District Courts: For local case pendency, certified copies, and staff details.
• Supreme Court of India (SC Registry): For administrative records and certified copies.
• State Judicial Academies: For training, research, and infrastructure information.

FAQs on RTI for Judiciary & Courts