Appeal No. 6981 of 2026 filed by Sandeep Kumar

Appeal No. 6981 of 2026

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BEFORE THE APPELLATE AUTHORITY

(Under the Right to Information Act, 2005)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA

Appeal No. 6981 of 2026

Sandeep Kumar : Appellant

CPIO, SEBI, Mumbai : Respondent

ORDER

1. The appellant had filed an application dated July 04, 2026 (received by SEBI through RTI MIS portal) under

the Right to Information Act, 2005 (“RTI Act”). The respondent, by a letter dated July 15, 2026 responded

to the application filed by the appellant. The appellant filed an appeal dated July 16, 2026 (Reg. No.

SEBIH/A/E/26/00260). I have perused the application, the response of the respondent and the appeal and

find that the matter can be decided based on the material available on record.

2. Queries in the application - The appellant, in his application dated July 04, 2026 sought the following

information:

“1) provide me the details of the regulations in respect of maintenance charges by a DP client towards a demet account in all

conditions.

2) provide me the details of regulations in respect of occasions of communication among DP client and demet account holder.

3) provide me the copy of approved procedure to close a de-met account.”

3. Reply of the Respondent – The respondent, in response to query nos. 1 to 3, in the application, informed

that the appellant can refer to SEBI (Depositories and Participants) Regulation, 2018 and SEBI Master

Circular for Depositories dated December 03, 2024. The same are available in public domain on SEBI

Further, respondent informed that appellant can refer to circulars and operational guideline issued by

Depositories.

Appeal No. 6981 of 2026

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4. Ground of appeal – The appellant has filed the appeal on the ground that he was provided incomplete,

misleading or false information.

5. I have perused the application and the response provided thereto. With regard to query nos. 1, 2 & 3, the

respondent has informed that the appellant can refer to the to SEBI (Depositories and Participants)

Regulation, 2018, SEBI Master Circular for Depositories dated December 03, 2024, circulars and operational

guideline issued by Depositories. On consideration, I note that the requested information is available on the

public domain. In this context, I note that the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in Registrar of Companies & ors. Vs.

Dharmendra Kumar Garg & anr. and the Hon’ble CIC in Shri K Lall vs. Shri M K Bagri (CIC/AT/A/2007/00112,

order dated April 12, 2007) held that if the relevant information is available in the public domain, the same

cannot be said to be information held by the public authority and consequently there is no obligation to

provide such information to an applicant under the RTI Act. Accordingly, I do not find any deficiency in the

said response of the respondent.

6. In view of the above observations, I find that there is no need to interfere with the decision of the respondent.

The appeal is accordingly dismissed.

Place: Mumbai RUCHI CHOJER

Date: August 13, 2026 APPELLATE AUTHORITY UNDER THE RTI ACT

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA