Authority: Appellate Authority under the RTI Act, Securities and Exchange Board of India

Order Date: October 01, 2026

Case Overview

The appeal was filed by Ardra K M against the CPIO, SEBI, Mumbai regarding an RTI application dated August 03, 2026 (received through RTI MIS portal). The appellant sought specific clarifications regarding eligibility criteria for SEBI Grade A recruitment under the October 30, 2025 notification, particularly concerning: (1) validity of Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Engineering (PGDM) from Madras School of Economics while under AIU review for MBA equivalence, (2) recognition of CFA qualifications (whether passing all three levels suffices or full charterholder status is required), and (3) specific documentary proof requirements for both qualifications.

The respondent (CPIO) had responded on August 31, 2026, stating that the queries sought clarification and could not be construed as "information" under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act. The respondent noted that qualification requirements are governed by SEBI (Employees' Service Regulation), 2001 (SEBI ESR), which is publicly available on SEBI's website.

The Appellate Authority examined the application, response, and appeal (Registered No. SEBIH/A/E/26/00335 filed on September 04, 2026) and concurred with the respondent's position. The authority determined that the queries sought clarification/opinion rather than defined "information" under the RTI Act. Relying on the precedent set in Azad Singh vs. CPIO, Oriental Insurance Company Limited (March 23, 2021 order), the authority emphasized that CPIOs are not required to create, interpret, or compile information according to an appellant's desires, but only communicate existing records.

Final Outcome

The appeal was dismissed, upholding the CPIO's decision. The Appellate Authority found no deficiency in the respondent's response and determined no interference was warranted. The appellant's request for certified information and clarifications on eligibility interpretation remains unfulfilled through this RTI mechanism.

Topics: RTI Act, Recruitment Eligibility, Regulatory Compliance