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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(section 21 rti act, good-faith immunity, rti india, rti act 2005)
+metatag-description=(Section 21 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith. Section 21 protects officers from civil/criminal proceedings for actions taken in good faith under the Act. It is narrow — good faith is a high bar, and mala fide conduct under Sec...)}}
+====== Section 21 — Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith ======
+{{ :social:auto:act-section-21.png?direct&1200 |Section 21 of the RTI Act — Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith}}
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**In one line:** Section 21 protects officers from civil/criminal proceedings for actions taken in good faith under the Act. It is narrow — good faith is a high bar, and mala fide conduct under Section 20 is not good faith.
+</WRAP>
+===== Key points =====
+  * No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done in good faith.
+  * 'Good faith' requires honest belief in lawfulness, not merely absence of bad intent.
+  * Section 20 penalty for mala fide conduct is not barred by Section 21.
+===== Legislative history =====
+No amendments.
+===== Rulings and references =====
+  * **CIC decisions** — officers who follow Commission directions in good faith are protected; those who ignore directions and later claim good faith are not.
+  * **//State of A.P. v. N. Venugopal//, AIR 1964 SC 33** — good faith interpretation in statutory immunity context.
+===== Practical note =====
+Used as a defence in rare civil suits by third parties aggrieved by disclosure. Not available to the PIO whose delay or refusal is under Section 20 scrutiny.
+===== Call to action =====
+For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the [[:templates:first-rti|First RTI template]] or the [[:templates:first-appeal|First Appeal template]]. See [[:guide:applicant:application:how-fill-rti-application-form|How to fill an RTI application]] for structural help.
+===== Related =====
+  * [[act|Back to the full RTI Act]]
+  * [[act:section-6|Section 6 — Request for information]]
+  * [[act:section-7|Section 7 — Disposal]]
+  * [[act:section-8|Section 8 — Exemptions]]
+  * [[act:section-19|Section 19 — Appeals]]
+  * [[explanations|All explanations]]
+  * [[:important-decisions:start|Landmark RTI decisions]]
+===== Sources =====
+  - Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 21.
+  - RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable).
+  - DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable).
+  - Department of Personnel and Training, //Guide on the RTI Act, 2005//.
+//Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026//
+{{tag>rti act section-21 good-faith immunity 2026}}

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