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Education
Chhattisgarh HC: Private Schools Not Under RTI if PSU Pays Staff Wards' Fees
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🗓 29 Jun 2026, 05:46 PM
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The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that a private school is not a 'public authority' under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, even if a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) pays the tuition fees for its employees' children.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has clarified that private educational institutions do not automatically fall under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, merely because a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) finances the education of its employees' children by paying their fees.
The court's decision emphasizes that the definition of 'public authority' under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act requires substantial funding or control by the government. The mere act of fee payment by a PSU for its employees' wards does not equate to the government 'substantially funding' the private school itself.
This ruling provides clarity on the applicability of transparency laws to private entities, distinguishing between financial transactions for individual beneficiaries and direct governmental control or funding of the institution.
The court's decision emphasizes that the definition of 'public authority' under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act requires substantial funding or control by the government. The mere act of fee payment by a PSU for its employees' wards does not equate to the government 'substantially funding' the private school itself.
This ruling provides clarity on the applicability of transparency laws to private entities, distinguishing between financial transactions for individual beneficiaries and direct governmental control or funding of the institution.