Law Judge And Justice Symbol
Because it may contain sensitive information protected under the law, lucknow: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has held that CCTV footage cannot be provided directly to an applicant under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. During the hearing, counsel for the State Information Commission submitted that CCTV footage contained sensitive information and could not be disclosed directly to an applicant due to the exemption under Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act. However, the court clarified that a competent court or commission can direct the preservation of such footage and summon it if required in proceedings before it. It was argued, however, that the footage could be produced if directed by a court or the commission. The petitioner, relying on a Supreme Court judgment, contended that preserving CCTV footage was a citizen’s right. The court noted that the petitioner had not filed any complaint before a court or competent forum and had merely sought a copy of the footage through the RTI route. In such circumstances, it held, the footage could not be furnished directly to him. The bench, however, made it clear that if the petitioner approaches an appropriate court or forum with a grievance, the authority concerned may be directed to preserve the CCTV footage and produce the original recording for consideration during the proceedings.