RTI Activism Has Become a Business, You Don’t Allow People To Work: Supreme Court

Ritwik Choudhury (Bar and Bench) 15 June 2026

Public Interest

The Supreme Court on Monday said that “RTI activism” had become a “business” that was preventing public servants from performing their duties.

A Bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi made the remarks while refusing anticipatory bail to two men who claimed that they were exposing corruption in a road project. They were accused of obstructing construction, assaulting labourers and using caste-based slurs.

“You obstructed public servants from performing their duties. RTI activists. It’s become a new business. You don’t allow people to work...Who are you to monitor all these road progress and all? Are you an engineer there or superior authority? Are you an authorised representative of public? So called RTI activist,” the Court remarked.

When counsel for the accused argued that they were concerned about alleged irregularities in the project for which ₹57 crore had been released by the Central government, the Court said that the matter was for the authorities to address.

“Central government has issued funds. Central government will take care of the construction. You are nobody,” the Bench said before dismissing the plea.

The case stems from a first information report (FIR) registered at Batala City police station on February 20 this year. According to the prosecution, the accused obstructed an ongoing road construction project, criminally intimidated the complainant and labourers present at the site and used caste-based derogatory remarks against workers belonging to Scheduled Castes.

The FIR further alleged that one of the accused attacked the complainant with a datar (knife) while the other repeatedly kicked him, causing multiple injuries. Police also alleged that government records were snatched during the incident.

The accused, however, maintained that they had been falsely implicated after raising complaints about alleged corruption in the road construction work. They claimed that substandard material was being used in the project and that the FIR was lodged to protect contractors and officials involved in the construction.

Their plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in May. The High Court noted that the allegations disclosed specific involvement of the accused in obstructing government work, assaulting the complainant and labourers and using caste-based slurs. It also took note of medical evidence showing that the complainant suffered seven injuries, one of which was found to be grievous.

The High Court held that the accused’s allegations of corruption could not justify the grant of anticipatory bail at that stage, particularly when the allegations in the FIR were supported by medical evidence. It also observed that custodial interrogation was required in the case.

Challenging this order, the accused had approached the Supreme Court.

Courtesy: Bar & Bench

Comments

User

kalemohan

1 month ago

YES APEX COURT RIGHTLY SAID ABOUT RTI ACTIVST.

snehcs5

1 month ago

On one hand, genuine RTI activists are hailed as "modern-day freedom fighters" because they risk their lives and comfort to challenge systemic corruption, promote transparency, and hold powerful public institutions accountable. On the other hand, the legal system and public administrators increasingly express frustration over the weaponization of the Act.
The recent Supreme Court observations and the broader discourse around this tension reveal several key dimensions to this issue.
This orders shows biases of officers Sitting at position of power, read with 100% tolerance towards corruption by persons of sitting at top level.
Read with action on Sitting Judge fire incident . As per Police Fire department whose cash was burnt. Hon’ble CJI has sought permission from the said Hon’ble Justice before staff visit.
In between evidence of burnt note removed.
No FIR is filed for destruction of evidence at Judge residence by Hon’ble supreme Court of India and Hon’ble Delhi High Court.
One Hon’ble Chief Justice of India has called these persons as Cockroaches. Afterwards , Cockroaches was restricted to fake degree Advocate.

Vivek Pratap

Replied to snehcs5 comment 1 month ago

Very true, even the last amendment in RTI Act was specifically done to hinder the information regarding properties and degrees of so called rulers of the modern India.We know how jobs and degrees were provided in the past especially before 2000 but one cannot talk to mosquitoes about the dengue and yes,mosquitoes have easily overtaken cockroaches.

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