Delhi HC dismisses plea to declare Rajiv Gandhi Foundation ‘public authority’ under RTI Act
The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition seeking to classify the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation as a 'public authority' under the Right to Information Act. The court cited the petitioner's failure to appear, while the foundation maintained it does not meet the criteria for public funding or government control.
Why it matters
The case touches on the transparency obligations of private foundations that receive government funding and the legal definition of public authorities in India.
The Delhi High Court on Monday (August 17, 2026) dismissed a 2011 petition seeking to bring the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) within the ambit of the Right to Information Act, observing that the petitioner had failed to appear before the court on several dates.
Justice Swarana Kanta dismissed the petition filed by Delhi-based lawyer Shanmuga Patro, who had challenged an October 15, 2010 order of the Central Information Commission holding that the foundation did not qualify as a “public authority” under the RTI Act.
The issue centred on whether RGF could be treated as a public authority and consequently be required to meet the transparency and disclosure obligations prescribed under the RTI law.
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