The IBBI denied an RTI appeal seeking compilation of insolvency claims and haircuts data, holding it need not generate information not in its existing records.
IBBI Not Obligated to Compile Fresh Data Under RTI
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has rejected an appeal under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, affirming it is not required to compile, analyse, or generate data that is not already available in its records. The decision underscores the limits of the RTI Act, which mandates disclosure of existing information but does not compel public authorities to create new datasets.
The appellant sought collated data on insolvency claims, haircuts, and resolution timelines across cases. The IBBI clarified that while certain aggregated reports are published periodically, it is not obligated to create custom datasets or reprocess raw records to meet specific requests. The authority referred to settled precedents, including D.C. Saxena v. Union of India, which hold that public bodies need not undertake fresh analysis or data compilation.
For practitioners, this reinforces the importance of framing RTI requests within the scope of existing records. Information not maintained in a retrievable format may be lawfully withheld, preserving administrative efficiency and preventing undue burden on regulatory agencies.
