Description

SEBI's Appellate Authority dismissed three RTI appeals filed by Syed Abdul Rahman as repetitive applications on the same subject matter, citing principles of constructive res judicata.

Summary

SEBI’s Appellate Authority under the RTI Act dismissed three appeals (Nos. 6555, 6557 & 6578 of 2025) filed by Syed Abdul Rahman on October 09, 2025. The appeals were dismissed as they were found to be repetitive in nature, addressing the same subject matter as a previous application (Reg. No. SEBIH/R/E/25/01078) dated August 16, 2025, for which an FAA Order had already been passed on October 09, 2025.

Key Points

  • Three RTI appeals filed by Syed Abdul Rahman were dismissed by SEBI’s Appellate Authority
  • Appeals pertained to applications filed on August 14, 2025, August 16, 2025, and September 16, 2025
  • The Appellate Authority found the applications to be repetitive and on the same subject matter as a previous application
  • The authority cited the principle of ‘constructive res judicata’ from the Central Information Commission’s ruling in Shri Ramesh Chand Jain vs. Delhi Transport Corporation (2014)
  • Repeated RTI applications were deemed to clog public offices and obstruct the flow of information to genuine applicants
  • Order signed by Ruchi Chojer, Appellate Authority under the RTI Act

Regulatory Changes

No regulatory changes were introduced by this order. This is an administrative decision regarding procedural matters under the RTI Act.

Compliance Requirements

This order does not impose new compliance requirements. It serves as a precedent that RTI applicants should seek all related information in their first application and avoid filing repetitive requests on the same subject matter.

Important Dates

  • August 14, 2025: First RTI application filed (Reg. No. SEBIH/R/E/25/01076)
  • August 16, 2025: Second RTI application filed (Reg. No. SEBIH/R/E/25/01069) and reference application filed (Reg. No. SEBIH/R/E/25/01078)
  • September 11, 2025: CPIO response to first application and first appeal filed
  • September 12, 2025: CPIO response to second application
  • September 13, 2025: Second appeal filed (Reg. No. SEBIH/A/E/25/00243)
  • September 16, 2025: Third RTI application filed (Reg. No. SEBIH/R/E/25/01195)
  • September 26, 2025: CPIO response to third application and third appeal filed
  • October 09, 2025: All three appeals dismissed; FAA Order for reference application also issued

Impact Assessment

Market Impact: None. This order has no impact on securities markets, trading operations, or market participants.

Operational Impact: Minimal. This order reinforces SEBI’s policy against repetitive RTI applications and emphasizes the principle that applicants should consolidate all related information requests in a single application. It serves as a procedural precedent for handling similar cases in the future and helps prevent clogging of SEBI’s RTI processing systems.

Impact Justification

This is an administrative order regarding RTI appeals with no market, trading, or regulatory impact. It addresses procedural matters related to repetitive information requests under the RTI Act.