Khanapuram Gandaiah v. Administrative Officer
RTI gives you access to information that already exists in the records of a public authority — documents, file notings, opinions, orders. It does not entitle you to demand the reasons for why a decision was taken, or answers to hypothetical questions.
Issue before the court
Whether an applicant can use the RTI Act to require a public authority to give the reasons for a decision, as opposed to seeking existing recorded information.
Facts in brief
The applicant sought to know why a judicial officer had decided his matter in a particular way — effectively asking for the reasoning behind a decision through an RTI application.
Holding / decision
The Supreme Court held that “information” under Section 2(f) means material that already exists and is held in the records of a public authority. An applicant can obtain existing records — opinions, advices, circulars, orders and file notings — but cannot demand that the authority explain why such a decision or opinion was formed, especially in judicial matters.
RTI is a right to access existing recorded information, not a right to compel a public authority to create answers, give reasons, or justify its decisions.
Frame your RTI to ask for documents and records that exist — file notings, orders, correspondence. Do not ask “why” a decision was made; instead seek the records that reveal the reasons.
What RTI can help you get
- Existing records, documents, file notings, opinions and orders held by the authority
- Copies of correspondence and recorded material
- The recorded basis of a decision, where it exists on file
What RTI may not give you
- An explanation of why a decision or opinion was formed
- Answers to hypothetical or argumentative questions
- Information the authority would have to create afresh to respond
When to cite this case
When an RTI is refused as seeking “reasons” or opinions, to draw the line between accessible records (including file notings) and impermissible “why” questions.
Later developments / current status
Khanapuram Gandaiah is routinely cited to reject “why”-type and argumentative RTI queries, while the right to existing file notings and records continues to be recognised.
Source & verification
Related FileMyRTI services
Use RTI Dost to phrase your request as a record-based RTI that authorities cannot reject as a “why” question.
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