New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) The Central Information Commission has directed the Income Tax Department to disclose “generic details of the net taxable income/gross income” of an estranged husband to his wife for pursuing maintenance proceedings, holding that such information cannot be denied on privacy grounds in matrimonial disputes.

In a recent order passed by Information Commissioner Vinod Kumar Tiwari, the Central Information Commission (CIC) said that upon verification of marital status and pendency of a matrimonial or maintenance case, the respondent authority (income tax) shall provide the information sought, while clarifying that “the details/copy of income tax returns and other personal information of third-party need not to be disclosed”.

The case involved a woman who sought the income details of her husband for the last five assessment years, alleging that he was concealing his actual earnings to evade maintenance liability.

The Income Tax Department had rejected the RTI request, citing third-party personal information under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.

Allowing the appeal, the Commission observed that information relating to income does not remain purely personal when sought by a legally wedded spouse for maintenance litigation, and directed the appellant to submit documents establishing her marital relationship and the pendency of the case before a competent court.

In a similar order, the CIC held that a deserted wife seeking the income details of her husband for adjudication of maintenance proceedings was entitled to limited disclosure.

The Commission directed the respondent authority to provide the "generic details of gross income or taxable income" of the husband for the relevant assessment years after verification, noting that such information was "essential for her livelihood and for effective adjudication of her maintenance claim”.

The Commission, however, reiterated that while generic income figures may be disclosed in such cases, copies of income tax returns and other sensitive personal details are exempt from disclosure under the RTI Act.

At the same time, the CIC drew a distinction in cases involving bank-held financial information.

In a separate order relating to the State Bank of India, the CIC held that bank locker details sought by a husband were exempt as "third party personal information" held in a "fiduciary relationship" under Sections 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.

In another SBI matter, the CIC observed that bank balances and deposit details of a spouse are "held by the bank in fiduciary capacity" and cannot be disclosed under the RTI Act. PTI MHS ARI

Wife can obtain husband's generic income figures for maintenance proceedings; tax returns and bank details remain protected. Upon verification of marital relationship and pendency of a matrimonial or maintenance case, the tax authority must provide generic details of gross income or net taxable income for relevant assessment years to the legally wedded spouse, while copies of income tax returns and other sensitive personal information remain exempt; bank-held information and locker or deposit details are treated as third-party personal information held in a fiduciary capacity and are not disclosable.