Central Information Commission
Rahul Gautam Chavan vs Employees Provident Fund Organisation on 15 May, 2026
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं ा /Second Appeal No. CIC/EPFOG/A/2025/627079
Rahul Gautam Chavan ....अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO,
Employees Provident Fund Organisation
Hyderabad ... ितवादीगण /Respondents
Date of Hearing : 14/05/2026
Date of Decision : 14/05/2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Ashutosh Chaturvedi
Relevant facts emerging from Second Appeal/Complaint:
RTI application filed on 02/04/2025
CPIO replied on 30/04/2025
First appeal filed on 10/05/2025
FAA's order dated 30/05/2025
Second Appeal dated 15/06/2025
Information sought:
The appellant has filed RTI application dated 02/04/2025 seeking the following information:
"I Rahul Gautam Chavan am filing this RTI application under the Right to Information Act 2005 to request details related to the EPF account of Smt Rajshree Maruti Landage daughter of Maruti and Savita Landage She has filed legal cases against me claiming under oath that she is unemployed However I have credible information that she is or was employed at CMR College of Engineering and Technology CMRCET Hyderabad which may have registered Second Appeal/ Complaint No. CIC/EPFOG/A/2025/627079 Page 1 of 4 her under EPFO for provident fund contributions Employer Details for Reference Name CMR College of Engineering and Technology CMRCET Address Kandlakoya Medchal Road Hyderabad Telangana 501401 Affiliation Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University JNTU Hyderabad Request for Information-
1. Kindly provide details of the EPFO account of Smt Rajshree Maruti Landage including EPF number contributions made employer details and any other relevant details.
2. Please provide the EPF account statements or contribution records from her date of joining till present 3 Confirm whether she has been contributing to EPF and provide details of the EPF balance if available This information is required for a legal proceeding in which Smt Rajshree Maruti Landage has declared that she is unemployed This directly affects my legal rights as she has filed maintenance claims against me Providing this information is necessary to present the truth before the court and ensure that legal provisions are not misused If any part of this information is exempt under Section 8 1 J of the RTI Act I request consideration of the larger public interest and disclosure of the required details..."
2. The CPIO has furnished a reply to the appellant on 30/04/2025 stated as:
"1. It is not possible to supply information with the only Input of "name" as sought by the RTI applicant.
2. In view of the reply to point no. 1 above, it is to inform that EPFO holds the information sought in a fiduciary capacity. Hence, the information is not provided in view of the exemption contained under section 8 (1) (e) of the RTI Act, 2005."
3. Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the appellant filed the First Appeal with the first Appellate Authority and the First Appellate Authority vide order dated 30/05/2025 stated as under:
"The applicant was provided the information vide CPIO decision dated 30/04/2025 that it is not possible to supply information with the only input of "Name". A copy of the same is enclosed herewith.
In this context, information provided by the Central Public Information Officer is found to be in order. The appeal is disposed off accordingly."
4. Being aggrieved, the Appellant filed the Instant Second Appeal on 15/06/2025.
Written Submission of the Respondent dated 04/05/2026 is taken on record.
Second Appeal/ Complaint No. CIC/EPFOG/A/2025/627079 Page 2 of 45.Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Absent Respondent: J.V. S.S Kumar CPIO/APFC participated in the hearing on VC The Appellant has not availed the opportunity to participate in the hearing despite due notice of hearing. The Respondent submits that the financial information of any individual and especially that of EPF members is purely personal and cannot be disclosed by the EPFO which is maintaining the data under trust and fiduciary capacity. The personal financial information is protected by law and cannot be accessed as a fishing expedition through RTI, reinforcing the privacy rights applying to financial details/records RTI is not a forum to settle their personal scores or matrimonial disputes.
DECISION Upon perusal of the case records and the submission made during hearing it is observed that the information sought by the appellant is exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. In view of this, Commission finds it pivotal to highlight the Delhi high Court Judgement of Vijay Prakash Vs. UOI AND ORS, in W.P.(C) 803/2009, relevant portion of the said judgment is as under:
"23. As discussed earlier, the "public interest" argument of the Petitioner is premised on the plea that his wife is a public servant; he is in litigation with her, and requires information, - in the course of a private dispute to establish the truth of his allegations. The CIC has held that there is no public interest element in the disclosure of such personal information, in the possession of the information provider, i.e. the Indian Air Force. This court concurs with the view, on an application of the principles discussed. The petitioner has, not been able to justify how such disclosure would be in "public interest": the litigation is, pure and simple, a private one. The basic protection afforded by virtue of the exemption (from disclosure) enacted under Section 8(1)(j) cannot be lifted or disturbed."
In view of the aforementioned factual and legal position, it is noted that the Respondent has sent appropriate response to the Appellant, in consonance with the provisions of the RTI Act.
No further adjudication is warranted in this case, under the RTI Act. The Appeal stands disposed of accordingly.
Sd/-
Ashutosh Chaturvedi (आशु तोष चतु वदी) Information Commissioner (सू चना आयु ) िदनां क/ Date: 14.05.2026 Second Appeal/ Complaint No. CIC/EPFOG/A/2025/627079 Page 3 of 4 Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) Ram Singh Meena (राम िसंह मीना) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011- 26715467 Address of the Parties:
1. CPIO EPFO, Regional Office Kukatpally, Balanagar Main Rd, Near Y Junction, Prashanti Nagar, TSRTC Bus Complex, Moosapet, Hyderabad 500072, Telangana
2. Rahul Gautam Chavan Second Appeal/ Complaint No. CIC/EPFOG/A/2025/627079 Page 4 of 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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