While contesting a claim for maintenace, one can seek the help of the RTI Act for disclosure of financial details of ex-wife. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has held that in a matter where financial interests of a person is being affected, information which is otherwise protected should be disclosed in larger public interest.

Information Commissioner M M Ansari in a recent case said without disclosure of financial details of ex-wife, it would not be possible for the parties to arrive at a reasonable amount of maintenance to be paid, thereby adversely affecting financial interest of one party.

The Commission’s order came on an appeal of Ashish Kumar Tiwari of Hoshangabad, who had sought from Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) details of Provident Fund account of his ex-wife. The EPFO had refused to furnish the information on the ground such details are exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(e) and (j) of the RTI Act .