Allahabad High Court Orders Not to Provide CCTV Footage Directly Through RTI

LEGAL CORRESPONDENT। Allahabad High Court has delivered a significant verdict not to provide CCTV footage directly under RTI.

This order was passed on a petition filed by Shobhit Kashyap, who had requested the entire CCTV footage through an RTI application on March 20, 2025. The petitioner also demanded a fine of Rs 25,000 on the Public Information Officer for not providing the information and compensation for mental harassment.

Therefore, under Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act, it cannot be shared directly with the public or the applicant.

The court clarified that if a person requests footage only through RTI, it will not be provided directly. However, if the victim or concerned person files a formal complaint before the competent court or authorized commission, that forum can order the police or administration to preserve the footage and summon it for investigation.

This arrangement has been made keeping sensitivity and confidentiality in mind.

The requested CCTV footage contains sensitive information that could endanger a person's safety or reveal other confidential aspects

State Information Commission, officials' stance

If the petitioner files a complaint in the competent forum, the forum may consider summoning the footage as evidence

Court, in the verdict