The Central Information Commission has dismissed an appeal seeking details on how Indian Railways calculates passenger fares. Railways officials firmly defended their position, stating the fare calculation method qualifies as a protected trade secret.
Railways Cite RTI Act Exemptions for Non-Disclosure
Section 8 of the Right to Information Act clearly lists specific exemptions for information that does not require public disclosure. This section protects sensitive categories of data from being released. These categories include matters related to national security, confidential commercial information like trade secrets, and personal privacy concerns.
Railways representatives argued before the CIC that their fare calculation methodology falls squarely under the trade secret exemption. They maintained that revealing this internal process could harm their commercial interests and competitive position.
CIC Upholds Railways' Position in Dismissal
The Central Information Commission reviewed the arguments from both sides carefully. After deliberation, the commission determined that Railways had valid grounds for withholding the fare calculation details. The CIC's decision to dismiss the appeal reinforces the protection afforded to trade secrets under existing transparency laws.
This ruling highlights the ongoing tension between public transparency and commercial confidentiality. While the RTI Act promotes government accountability, it also recognizes legitimate reasons for keeping certain information confidential.
The dismissed appeal represents another instance where public authorities invoke Section 8 protections. Railways' successful defense of their fare calculation as a trade secret sets a notable precedent for similar cases involving commercial methodologies used by government entities.
