Case Law Analysis
|Bombay High Court
Section 19(5) RTI Act | Monetary Costs Require Proof of Deliberate Fault or Mala Fide Delay, Not Merely Procedural Delay : Bombay HC
The Bombay High Court has ruled that public authorities cannot be penalized with monetary costs under Section 19(5) of the RTI Act solely for procedural delays; the imposition of costs demands clear evidence of intentional obstruction or mala fide conduct. This sets a critical precedent for accountability, ensuring that public bodies are not unduly punished for administrative bottlenecks absent bad faith.