LUCKNOW, Jan. 24 -- In a ruling aimed at safeguarding patient privacy, the Uttar Pradesh Information Commission has held that CCTV footage from hospitals cannot be shared with individuals merely on request under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, unless it forms part of a police investigation or is sought under a court order.

Information commissioner Mohammad Nadeem passed the order on January 21 while hearing an appeal filed by Kulwant Singh, who had sought CCTV footage from a hospital in Bijnor district.

The information commissioner emphasised that hospitals are sensitive public health spaces where the privacy of patients, their attendants, doctors and staff must be protected.

"A hospital is a public health institution where hundred...