Andhra Pradesh Information Commission bars RTI activist for ‘misuse’, orders record seizure

Published 22 June 2026 · politics

In a sweeping order, the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC) has prohibited Tirupati-based RTI activist and advocate Perumal Jayachandra Reddy from filing applications, appeals and

In a sweeping order, the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC) has prohibited Tirupati-based RTI activist and advocate Perumal Jayachandra Reddy from filing applications, appeals and complaints under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, citing repeated misuse of the transparency law, vexatious litigation and serious allegations of financial exploitation of information seekers. Delivering a 20-page common order on Friday (June 19, 2026), Chief Information Commissioner Vajja Srinivasa Rao dismissed 39 second appeals and complaints filed by Mr. Jayachandra Reddy, who represented the Legal Aid Welfare Society (LAWS), holding that the RTI Act confers the right to seek information only on individual citizens and not on legal entities such as societies or associations. The Commission also directed the District Collector of Tirupati to immediately seize records allegedly maintained by Mr. Jayachandra Reddy relating to complainants V.

Lalitha Devi, B. Chandraiah and other members of the public, citing larger public interest. The order further said all pending RTI applications, first appeals and second appeals filed by Mr. Jayachandra Reddy would stand closed, and directed the Commission’s registry to circulate the order to all government departments, district collectors, superintendents of police, public information officers and appellate authorities across Andhra Pradesh. The Commission said Mr. Jayachandra Reddy had filed RTI applications under the banner of the Legal Aid Welfare Society, represented by its president and advocate, making the applications legally untenable. Referring to Section 3 of the RTI Act, the Commission said only a “citizen” can seek information, while a society or any other juristic person cannot claim that status. The order cited several judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts and the Central Information Commission, to show the distinction between a legal person and a citizen.

The Commission further said the appellant had repeatedly invoked the “life and liberty” provision under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act to seek information within 48 hours without demonstrating any imminent threat to life or personal liberty. According to the order, public authorities complained that Mr. Jayachandra Reddy had filed numerous RTI applications seeking extensive records, often concerning personal grievances rather than matters of larger public interest. Officials also alleged that he repeatedly submitted similar applications, appeals and complaints despite having already received responses. The Commission described several applications as speculative, repetitive and aimed at pressuring public authorities. It also took exception to language in some appeals warning officials of penalties and disciplinary action for non-compliance, terming such statements as intimidating. The order referred to two complaints received against Mr. Jayachandra Reddy. In one case, a woman alleged that he collected ₹1 crore for obtaining property-related records through RTI but failed to provide the documents or return the money.