RTI Act private information

[Murari Agrawal]

Dear experts,

We are a private partnership firm having a factory. Some one has applied to Govt under RTI Act for obtaining information re number of workers, wage structure in our factory. While the Labour officer can always visit us and get details, we think the RTI application needs to be rejected as the information sought is exempt under section 8 of the Act. Pl give your valued opinion with any case law if possible. Thanks.

AI Summary

Commercial confidence and personal privacy can exempt workplace information from RTI, subject to a public interest override and notice to third parties.
Information revealing commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property that would harm a third party's competitive position, and personal information causing unwarranted invasion of privacy, are exempt from RTI disclosure unless larger public interest warrants release. Before disclosing third party information, the public information officer must give written notice to the third party, allow submissions, and the third party has a right to appeal disclosure decisions.