The First Appellate Authority of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India disposed of multiple RTI appeals filed by the appellant challenging the failure of the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) to provide information regarding a complaint against a resolution professional. The appellant had sought records related to his complaint filed pursuant to an NCLAT order. The authority observed that the RTI application was filed on 25 January 2026, with the statutory deadline expiring on 24 February 2026, but the response was furnished only on 19 March 2026. While examining the matter under Sections 2(f) and 3 of the RTI Act, it was noted that information must be provided within prescribed timelines, subject to exemptions. The authority emphasized that public authorities must adhere to statutory timelines and urged the CPIO to ensure timely disposal of RTI requests in future. The appeal was accordingly disposed of without further directions.
BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY
INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY BOARD OF INDIA
7th Floor, Mayur Bhawan, Shankar Market,
Connaught Circus, New Delhi -110001
Dated: 01st April 2026
Order under section 19 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) in respect of RTI
Appeal Registration No. ISBBI/A/E/26/0007, ISBBI/A/E/26/0008,
ISBBI/A/E/26/0009, ISBBI/A/E/26/00010
IN THE MATTER OF
Balkishan Baldawa
… Appellant
Vs.
Central Public Information Officer
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
7th Floor, Mayur Bhawan, Shankar Market,
Connaught Circus, New Delhi -110001
… Respondent
1. The Appellant has filed the present Appeals dated 4th March 2026, challenging the communication of the Respondent, filed under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act). Since the subject-matter of the impugned Appeals are identical, same is disposed of vide common order.
2. In its RTI Application, the Appellant had sought records pertaining to his complaint (Complaint No. IBBI/C/2025/01717) against the resolution professional of Techindia Nirman Limited, which was filed pursuant to the order of NCLAT dated 15.12.2025. The CPIO has not furnished a reply to the queries sought in the impugned Application. Aggrieved, The Appellant has filed the present Appeal stating, inter-alia, that the Respondent CPIO has failed to reply to the information as sought by the Appellant.
3. I have carefully examined the applications, the responses of the Respondent and the Appeals and find that the matter can be decided based on the material available on record. In terms of section 2(f) of the RTI Act ‘information’ means “any material in any form, including records, documents, memos e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force.” It is pertinent to mention here that the Appellant’s “right to information’ flows from section 3 of the RTI Act and the said right is subject to the provisions of the Act. Thus, if the public authority holds any information in the form of data, statistics, abstracts, an applicant can have access to the same under the RTI Act subject to exemptions under section 8.
4. In this regard, I note that the Appellant had filed the RTI application on 25th January 2026. The deadline to dispose of the impugned RTI Application expired on 24th February 2026. It is seen that the reply has been sent to appellant on 19th March, 2026. Being CPIO of a Public Authority like IBBI, the Respondent should be sensitive to timelines and disposal of information request. I would, therefore, encourage and urge the Respondent to consider the requirements of law while dealing with information requests under the RTI Act and dispose of RTI applications within the prescribed time in future.
5. The Appeal is, accordingly, disposed of.
Sd/-
(Kulwant Singh)
First Appellate Authority
Copy to:
1. Appellant, Balkishan Baldawa
2. CPIO, The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, 7th Floor, Mayur Bhawan, Shankar Market, Connaught Circus, New Delhi -110001.
