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Media Manager

Q: Does the PIO have to cite a specific clause?

Yes. CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (SC 2011) holds that any refusal must identify the specific sub-clause of Section 8. Generic invocation is insufficient.

Q: Does DPDP Act 2023 make all personal information exempt?

No. While the amendment deleted the public-interest proviso from Section 8(1)(j), the amendment itself is under Supreme Court reference. Section 8(2) public-interest override continues to apply. Girish Deshpande three-part test continues to be applied by most Information Commissions.

Q: Can the PIO refuse a whole file if only part is exempt?

No. Section 10 mandates severability — redact the exempt part, release the rest. Whole-file refusal is an appealable error.

Q: What is the strongest counter to every Section 8 refusal?

Three-part formula: Section 19(5) places burden on PIO to prove exemption; Section 10 mandates severability; Section 8(2) public-interest override applies. No PIO refusal survives all three honestly applied.

Q: Can RTI be denied citing no public interest?

No. Section 3 establishes presumption in favour of disclosure. PIO does not have to find public interest to disclose — they have to find harm to protected interest to refuse. Direction is the opposite.