https://www.taxtmi.com/highlights?id=97208 Income tax returns, assessment details and related financial records constitute 'personal information' under the RTI Act and are ordinarily protected against disclosure, subject to a qualified exception where larger public interest overrides the exemption. The relationship between the tax authority and an assessee has fiduciary characteristics for these records, reinforcing confidentiality. A disclosure direction issued without applying the larger public interest test is invalid. The RTI Act is not the appropriate mechanism for obtaining a spouse's tax records in maintenance proceedings; the correct remedy is to seek production through the competent matrimonial court which may direct the tax authority to produce records. en-us Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:35:37 +0530 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:35:40 +0530 TaxTMI RSS Generator https://www.taxtmi.com/highlights?id=97208 Income tax returns, assessment details and related financial records constitute 'personal information' under the RTI Act and are ordinarily protected against disclosure, subject to a qualified exception where larger public interest overrides the exemption. The relationship between the tax authority and an assessee has fiduciary characteristics for these records, reinforcing confidentiality. A disclosure direction issued without applying the larger public interest test is invalid. The RTI Act is not the appropriate mechanism for obtaining a spouse's tax records in maintenance proceedings; the correct remedy is to seek production through the competent matrimonial court which may direct the tax authority to produce records. Highlights Income Tax Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:35:37 +0530 https://www.taxtmi.com/highlights?id=97208