Supreme Court Refers Data Protection Law Challenge to Larger Bench: No Stay on Act

• Supreme Court refused to suspend recent changes to the RTI Act through the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.
• A Bench led by CJI Surya Kant referred the matter to a larger Bench, stating "No question of stay" on the enacted framework.
• The Court emphasized balancing privacy rights and the public’s right to know, calling it a "complex and sensitive issue."
• Petitions challenge Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, which amends Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, arguing it dilutes transparency.
• Concerns were also raised about government powers under Section 36 of the DPDP Act and the independence of the Data Protection Board.