Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, salary details of a public servant do not constitute purely private "third-party" information when requested by a legally wedded spouse involved in maintenance proceedings. Public authorities routinely reject these requests under Section 8(1)(j) (privacy/third-party exemption), but the Central Information Commission (CIC) and several High Courts (including MP and Bombay High Courts) have repeatedly established that a spouse has a legitimate right to know the generic/gross salary details to secure justice in maintenance cases. Additionally, under Section 4(1)(b)(x) of the RTI Act, every public authority is required to publish the monthly remuneration paid to its employees voluntarily.
If the Divisional Office (CPIO) refused the application, the wife can escalate the matter by filing first appeal before First Appellate Authority (FAA). If the First Appellate Authority also rejects or fails to answer within 30–45 days, file a Second Appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC), New Delhi.
The wife’s advocate can file an application before the JMFC under the relevant provisions (or under Section 91 CrPC / Section 94 BNSS) requesting the Court to issue a summons to the Head of the Postal Division / Drawing and Discharging Officer (DDO) to produce the husband’s official pay slips, Form 16, or salary statements.