Celebrating 21 Years of the Right to Information Act: A Milestone in Transparent Governance- By Amrit Pal Sidhu

Babushahi.com: Chandigarh: Tuesday, 13^th October 2026.
A Landmark Law That Puts Transparency and Accountability in the Spotlight, RTI Emerges As a Cornerstone of Democratic Governance

The Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC) commemorated the State-Level Right to Information Day in a event held at the UT State Guest House in Chandigarh, This celebration marked 21 years since the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005, a pivotal legislation that has played a crucial role in promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment within democratic governance.
A highlight of the event was the release of the book "RTI and Good Governance," authored by Punjab State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu. The book was unveiled under the patronage of Punjab Chief Information Commissioner Inderpal Singh Dhanna.
 It emphasizes the importance of the Right to Information framework in fostering a transparent, accountable, and responsible administration. The publication aims to enhance public understanding of the RTI Act's objectives and provisions, its evolution over two decades, and the emerging dimensions of information governance in light of contemporary legal and administrative developments.
Punjab's Minister for Good Governance and Information Technology, Aman Arora, addressed the gathering, underscoring the empowerment that the Right to Information Act, 2005, has provided to ordinary citizens. He highlighted that the Act ensures transparency and accountability in government operations, aligning with the constitutional spirit of a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Arora emphasized that public institutions must operate transparently and remain accountable to citizens to achieve this objective. He also noted the state government's initiatives to strengthen good governance through digital platforms by ensuring timely service delivery and accountability for delays.
The event was graced by prominent figures including Punjab Chief Information Commissioner Inderpal Singh Dhanna; State Information Commissioners Sandeep Dhaliwal, Varinderjit Singh Billing, Harpreet Sandhu, Dr. Bhupinder Singh Bath, and Pooja Gupta; as well as former Punjab Chief Information Commissioners Rajan Kashyap, IAS (Retd.), Ramesh Inder Singh, IAS (Retd.), S.S. Channy, IAS (Retd.), and Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill. The audience also included Chandigarh DGP Sagarpreet Singh Hooda, a delegation from the Western Command led by Colonel Jagdeep Sandhu, senior police and civil administration officers from the Punjab Government, former High Court judges, and Public Information Officers (PIOs) from across Punjab.
Rajan Kashyap, the founding Chief Information Commissioner of Punjab, shared his reflections on the early days of implementing the RTI Act. Former Chief Information Commissioners Ramesh Inder Singh and S.S. Channy also contributed their insights during the occasion.
The book "RTI and Good Governance" features special messages from Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Punjab Governor and Administrator of UT Chandigarh Gulab Chand Kataria, and Chief Information Commissioner of India Raj Kumar Goyal, IAS (Retd.).
These messages highlight the constitutional and democratic significance of the publication. The book has also received endorsements from Wajahat Habibullah, India’s first Chief Information Commissioner, and Rajan Kashyap, Punjab’s first Chief Information Commissioner.
Authored by Harpreet Sandhu under the auspices of the Punjab State Information Commission, the book reiterates a commitment to enhancing public awareness, promoting responsible implementation of the RTI framework, and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability in public institutions.
The event served as an important platform to review the achievements over the past 21 years while reaffirming the ongoing need for effective implementation of the RTI Act in the larger public interest.
As stakeholders continue to advocate for transparent governance, events like these underscore the enduring significance of the Right to Information Act in empowering citizens and strengthening democratic foundations.

Forest dept denies Cheetah death reports under RTI, cites risk to foreign relations

Daily Pioneer: Kadapa: Tuesday, 13^th October 2026.
The Forest Department has refused to provide post-mortem reports of cheetahs that died at Kuno National Park, citing concerns that disclosure could adversely affect India’s relations with foreign countries.

In response to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the department said Project Cheetah is a national project of the Government of India, implemented through international cooperation. The department said it has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with foreign countries for the project, and disclosing the requested information could affect India’s relations with them. The department invoked Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, 2005, to claim exemption from sharing the records.
The Kuno Divisional Forest Officer’s office issued the reply on October 9, 2026. Activist Ajay Dubey, who filed the application, questioned the department’s reasoning, asking how making post-mortem reports of dead cheetahs public could adversely affect India’s foreign relations.
Dubey had submitted the RTI application on January 28, 2026, seeking information on four aspects of Project Cheetah. A key demand was for post-mortem reports and related records of cheetahs that had died in Madhya Pradesh from January 1, 2024, until the date of disclosure.
The matter had also gone through the first appeal process. Following an appellate order dated September 17, 2026, the office of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, sent a letter to the Kuno Divisional Forest Officer on September 18, directing necessary action. However, the department subsequently refused to provide the reports in its October 9 response.
Dubey also sought information on the conservation and management of cheetahs at Kuno National Park, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Rani Durgavati Nauradehi Tiger Reserve. His application included records relating to foreign visits and correspondence with various government institutions.
Questioning the decision, Dubey said concerns over sensitive information about living cheetahs might be understandable. Still, he found it hard to see how post-mortem reports on dead animals could harm international relations.
The dispute centres on the department’s reliance on the RTI Act’s foreign-relations exemption. The response does not explain how disclosing the specific reports would affect India’s relations with other countries, while the activist has challenged the justification for withholding them.
The issue raises questions about transparency in Project Cheetah and the grounds on which the government can withhold information about animal deaths under the conservation programme from the public.

Andhra Pradesh Govt Departments Send RTI Replies After 10 Years

ETV Bharat: Kadapa: Tuesday, 13^th October 2026.
While a few departments responded at the time, most offices ignored his applications for years.

Suresh Babu received RTI responses after 10 years of filing them. (Eenadu)

Information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, is supposed to be provided within the prescribed time limit of 30 days. However, several government departments in Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Kadapa district have taken a decade to respond to applications filed in 2015.
Thummaluru Suresh Babu, a research scholar in the Department of Journalism at Yogi Vemana University (YVU) in Kadapa district, began research in 2012 on the topic 'Implementation of the Right to Information Act-2005: A Study in Kadapa District'.
As part of his PhD research, he filed applications under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act in 2015, seeking information on the implementation of the legislation across various government departments in the district.
While a few departments provided responses at the time, most offices allegedly ignored his applications.
Suresh Babu then collected information through other sources, completed his research thesis and submitted it to the university. YVU awarded him a PhD on September 5, 2017.
Now, in 2026, several departments are sending the requested information through registered post and Speed Post, over 10 years after the applications were filed.
Babu said that responses from 46 departments that had failed to provide the information earlier have brought renewed attention to delays and administrative negligence in implementing the RTI Act.

HT interview: RTI assured openness, digitisation brought logins, says activist Nikhil Dey- Articles by Himanshi Dahiya

Hindustan Times: HT interview: Tuesday, 13^th October 2026.
Two decades on, the law is under strain. The 2019 amendments gave the Centre control over the tenure and salaries of information commissioners.

RTI activist and MKSS co-founder Nikhil Dey speaks about what the law meant when it was won, how far it has been weakened, and what must happen next. (HT illustration)

Twenty-one years ago, on October 12, 2005, the Right to Information (RTI) Act came into force, giving every Indian citizen the legal right to question the state. The law grew out of a movement that began in the villages of Rajasthan, where the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) held public hearings to compare official records with what villagers knew from the ground.
Two decades on, the law is under strain. The 2019 amendments gave the Centre control over the tenure and salaries of information commissioners. Several commissions have faced vacancies and backlogs, and activists say the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDA) threatens the transparency regime.
In an interview with HT, RTI activist and MKSS co-founder Nikhil Dey speaks about what the law meant when it was won, how far it has been weakened, and what must happen next. Edited excerpts:
The RTI movement grew out of villages and public hearings in Rajasthan. What did it mean for the people to gain that right, and does it still matter today?
It came out of villages and rural and semi-urban areas. It came out of poor people’s questions, and it became something everyone uses. That is significant. It became potent when we took it into the public domain. When someone puts information obtained through RTI in the media, it has an almost chemical effect. Otherwise, it sits at home with you. When you make an exposé public with proof, that combination creates impact, much as investigative journalism does. When we started village-based public hearings, it showed that if you make information transparent, anyone can use it, especially those with the greatest stake.
Look at the Mela we held recently in Beawar to mark the anniversary of the law. Rural women turned up in hundreds, defending RTI with a strong understanding of it. People who initially fought for the law were there, as were those who later came to use it. You now have a whole range of people working naturally on transparency and accountability.
In recent years there have been several amendments to the Act. How serious is the damage?
(It is) Serious. The backbone of the law is the information commissions, and many have vacancies. What has happened through the DPDP Act is a potential killer of RTI. It has made things very difficult.
Yet you have a huge community energised by this law. There is no village, town or mohalla in any city without one or two keen RTI users. That has kept it going. They keep cursing the amendments and saying the law is not working, but they are doing amazing things in creative ways.
Governance has moved online, and so many records are now digital. What is RTI’s relevance in this context?
RTI said that what was hidden under the Official Secrets Act would now be made public. Then governments started digitising information, and as they did, they put it behind admin logins that only officers can see. That is contrary to the RTI Act, which said that as you digitise, you should make information public. “Open data” is a misnomer. The bulk of what matters to citizens is behind logins that a Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary or BDO can access, but others cannot.
That is why we have pushed to remove admin logins. Take the Jan Soochna portal in Rajasthan, which covers 169 departments and 330 schemes, with government expenditure and transactions disclosed online in real time. It has had about 37 crore visits since 2019 and over 50 crore pieces of information downloaded. Even if a tiny percentage of that would have become RTIs, think of how many RTIs it has prevented, because people get the full audit trail of their applications.
The 2019 amendment gave the Centre control over the tenure and salaries of information commissioners. Commissions face vacancies and backlogs. What is the fix?

First, full and time-bound appointments. Information Commissions are left vacant for long periods. In Rajasthan, there has been no Chief Information Commissioner for some time, and the commission cannot function without a chief.
The amendments made it worse by making commissions far more subservient to the government. We have seen the same debate around the appointment of election commissioners. For information commissioners too, the formula is the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and a Cabinet Minister chosen by the Prime Minister. The bottom line is how independent you make the institution, in appointments and in functioning. They have made it more subservient to the executive, which is terrible.
RTI users have faced threats and assaults, and several have been killed. The Whistleblowers Protection Act remains unimplemented. How can ordinary citizens protect themselves?
It is terrible that the Act has not been implemented. There should be accountability for every attack and every death. If an RTI user is attacked while seeking information or in the follow-up, it should be the state’s duty to not just inquire into that case but audit the entire institution. If someone has been murdered, something is seriously wrong with the whole office. If a sarpanch attacks someone who asks questions about a road, the whole panchayat should be audited by state government auditors. The attack is meant to silence the person, so the response should be to investigate even more, so they know it can cost them much more.
Every attack should get a fact-finding, and every murder should be pursued. Families often fight very lonely battles. Some of these people are as good as martyrs, and they are often forgotten. That more than a hundred, 10 or 15 people have been killed shows how important the law is and how dogged its users are.

RTI Act| Exemption Granted To Directorate Of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Doesn’t Apply To Information Related To Allegations Of Corruption & Human Rights Violations: Madras High Court

Verdictum: Madras: Tuesday, 13^th October 2026.
The Madras High Court was considering a petition filed by the State of Tamil Nadu, challenging the order passed by the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission.

The Madras High Court has held that though the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has been exempted from the operation of the RTI Act by G.O.Ms.No.158, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, dated August 26, 2008, however, as per the proviso to Section 24(4) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act), such exemption does not apply to information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.
The High Court was considering a petition filed by the petitioner, the State of Tamil Nadu, challenging the order passed by the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission.
The Single Bench of Justice Hemant Chandangoudar held, “The first question for consideration is the effect of Section 24(4) of the RTI Act. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has been exempted from the operation of the RTI Act by G.O.Ms.No.158, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, dated 26.08.2008, issued under Section 24(4). However, the proviso to Section 24(4) makes it clear that such exemption does not apply to information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.”
State Public Prosecutor R.Johnsathyan represented the Petitioner, while Standing Counsel C. Vigneshwaran represented the Respondent.
Factual Background
By the impugned order, the Public Information Officer of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) was directed to furnish the information sought by S.R. Jangid, IPS, Retired DGP, second respondent, under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act), after masking the names and other particulars of the other officers concerned. The respondent Officer submitted an application under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act seeking information relating to the detailed enquiry conducted by the DVAC. He sought copies of the enquiry reports, the queries raised by the Government, the statements recorded by the Enquiry Officer and all documents collected during the enquiry.
The Public Information Officer rejected the request by order, invoking Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act. The first appeal filed by the second respondent was also rejected. Thereafter, the second respondent filed a second appeal before the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act. During the proceedings before the Information Commission, the Public Information Officer furnished an item-wise reply. Thereafter, the Commission directed the Public Information Officer to furnish the information and copies of the documents sought by the second respondent. It was also directed that the names and other particulars of the other two officers be masked. The information was directed to be furnished within 45 days.
Reasoning
Considering that the Detailed Enquiry related to the allegations of corruption investigated by the DVAC, the Bench held that Section 24(4) cannot be relied upon as a complete bar to the information sought by the second respondent. “The request has to be considered with reference to the exemptions specifically provided under Section 8 of the RTI Act”, it stated.
The Bench further noted that no specific threat, circumstance or other material had been stated to support such an apprehension and held that a general assertion that disclosure may affect the safety of witnesses or third parties is not sufficient to attract Section 8(1)(g).
“In the present case, therefore, the State has not established that disclosure of the names of the third parties would endanger their life or physical safety. It has also not shown, in respect of each such person, that disclosure would reveal a confidential source of information or assistance given for enforcement purposes. Therefore, Section 8(1)(g) cannot be invoked as a blanket ground for withholding the names and particulars of all third parties”, it held.
As per the Bench, the direction issued by the Information Commission to furnish the information and copies of the documents sought by the respondent Officer, subject to masking the names and other particulars of the other officers concerned, was consistent with the provisions of the RTI Act.
Holding that the Officer was entitled to the information relating to the Detailed Enquiry conducted against him, subject to the limited exemptions recognised by the RTI Act, the Bench upheld the order passed by the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission.
Cause Title: State Of Tamil Nadu v. Tamil Nadu State Information Commission (Case No.: WP No. 22237 of 2024)
Appearance
Petitioner: State Public Prosecutor R. Johnsathyan, Govt Advocate N. Palanivel
Respondent: Standing Counsel C. Vigneshwaran, Advocates Nithyaesh Nataraj,, Vaibhav R.Venkatesh
(Click here to read/download Order)

The gaps in the implementation of the RTI Act : Gandla Sneha, Gauri Singavarapu,Sachin Swaraj

The Hindu: Article: Tuesday, 13^th October 2026.
Section 4 of the RTI Act lists 16 types of information which are to be disclosed by public authorities; such voluntary disclosure has not been followed
The Right to Information (RTI) Act completed 21 years today. Besides empowering citizens to demand information from public authorities, a key aspect of the RTI Act is the provision for suo motu mandatory disclosure of a variety of information on their websites so that people do not have to resort to filing requests under the Act for accessing basic information regarding any department.
Section 4 (1) (b) of the Act lists 16 types of information, ranging from contact details of officials to budgetary expenditure, which are to be made public at regular intervals. Moreover, the Department of Personnel and Training has issued guidelines for the disclosure of additional information, under eight broad categories, including information related to procurement, public-private partnerships, and all RTI applications received by each department. An analysis, however, showed that such voluntary disclosure has not been followed.
With the number of official websites of the Union government and State governments running into the thousands, the scope of this analysis is restricted to the departments listed as Public Authorities (PAs) in the Government of India’s online portal for filing of applications under the RTI Act and the data presented in the annual reports of the Central Information Commission (CIC). To ensure compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act, the government has also made it mandatory for transparency audits to be conducted by third parties and the reports of such audits to be shared with the CIC.

The annual report for the year 2024-25 released earlier this year by the CIC says that of the 2,303 PAs from various departments registered with the Commission, only 1,446 had submitted third party audit reports, which is just 62.7% of the total registered (Table 1). Of those submitted, more than 50% scored Grade C or below, which meant that they had scored 80% or below in the transparency audit. Those with Grade E had scored below 60% in the audit. Though nearly 37% of the registered PAs did not submit the audit reports, a look at the trend in the last five years showed that the compliance has improved year-on-year (Chart 1). In 2020-21, only 754 had submitted. This doubled to 1,443 in 2024-25.
The Hindu independently verified the websites of the 94 departments under which these PAs come under. The guidelines recommend the uploading of the transparency audit reports on the websites. However, only 33 of the 94 websites had the audit reports for the year 2024-25. While a majority of them did not have the latest audit reports, a few had older reports. An analysis on the information that is to be mandatorily disclosed under the RTI Act showed that, of the 94 departments, 56 authorities, or 62% have complied with this section on most categories, and have information from 2025-26. The websites of 26 departments did not have the information covered under the Act. For the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, there was no information available (Table 2). The remaining websites had either minimal or dated information on their websites.
Meanwhile, the number of new RTI requests and its pendency with the CIC has grown over the years (Chart 2). The Act states that PAs should provide “as much information suo motu to the public …so that the public have minimum resort to the use of this Act”. The efficient implementation of Section 4 can not only improve transparency but also reduce the pendency piling up with the CIC and State Information Commissions.

MKSS alleges attack on RTI yatra in Beawar

Times of India: Jaipur/Beawar: Monday, 12^th October 2026.

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) Sunday alleged that a group of men attacked its peaceful ‘Ghotala Rath Yatra’, an annual public awareness procession about the Right to Information Act, near Chang Gate in Beawar around 6pm, and assaulted social activists and women participants.
The organisation alleged the attackers pushed and manhandled women and young women walking at the front of the procession, abused participants and raised threatening slogans. MKSS also alleged one of its activists was assaulted outside the police station.
The yatra, a musical satirical performance associated with the RTI movement for three decades, was organised by MKSS and citizens ahead of RTI Day, observed on Oct 12, the day the RTI Act came into force.
MKSS said it had informed the district administration in writing about the programme and that the procession was peaceful. It demanded police action and registration of victims’ complaints.
SHO, Beawar City, Ashutosh Pandey, said police had registered cross-FIRs based on complaints from both parties. Police are investigating the case.

'Officers Not Posted In Dept During RTI Response Period Cannot Be Penalised For Delayed Disclosure': Chhattisgarh High Court - By Saksham Vaishya

 Live Law: Chhattisgarh: Monday, 12^th October 2026.

The Chhattisgarh High Court has quashed a ₹25,000 penalty imposed under the Right to Information Act on two Tahsildars who were not posted at the concerned Tahsil when the RTI application and first appeal were filed. The Court held that no liability could be fastened upon the petitioners as they were not posted at Dhamdha when the information was sought and the State Information Commission had also failed to consider their replies.
Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad was hearing a writ petition filed challenging the April 19, 2021 order of the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission imposing a penalty and directing initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the petitioners under Section 20(2) of the RTI Act.
The RTI application was filed by Govind Patel on June 18, 2018 before the then Tahsildar-cum-Public Information Officer, seeking information regarding the condition of ponds and encroachments within the Nagar Panchayat, Dhamdha. After the information was not supplied within 30 days, he filed a first appeal and approached the State Information Commission, which then passed the impugned order.
The petitioners contended that they could not be held responsible for non-supply of information during a period when they were not posted as Public Information Officers at Dhamdha. They also submitted that the RTI application itself was vague and that they had in fact filed their replies before the Information Commission, contrary to the finding in the impugned order.
The respondents supported the Commission's order but fairly submitted that the petitioners had, in fact, submitted their respective replies, which had subsequently been traced in another file.
The Court found that the petitioners had duly submitted their replies and that the Commission's finding that they had not done so was not borne out from the record. It further held that since the petitioners were not posted at the relevant time when the RTI application was filed, no liability could be fastened upon them.
“… the petitioners were not posted at the relevant point of time when the application seeking information was filed under RTI, as such no liability can be fastened upon the petitioners,” the Court observed.
The Court also noted that the information sought in the RTI application was vague and lacked the necessary particulars to clearly identify the precise information sought, an aspect which the State Information Commission had not considered while imposing the penalty. Document 1dfd17d4-2215-424b-a77…
Accordingly, the Court allowed the writ petition and quashed the April 19, 2021 order of the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission insofar as it imposed the ₹25,000 penalty on the petitioners.
Case Title: Smt. Hemlata Dahariya & Anr. v. Chhattisgarh State Information Commission & Ors. [WPC No. 3306 of 2021]
(Click Here To DownloadOrder)

21 years of right to information law, Achievements and bottlenecks: Dr Raja Sadaram Soma

The Hans India: Article: Monday, 12^th October 2026.
The Government of India has enacted the Public Records Act to ensure proper management, maintenance and preservation of public records of Central Government and its agencies. Some of the States like Maharashtra and Karnataka have enacted identical legislation in their States. The Telangana Information Commission, in its annual report for 2017 to 2020, has recommended that a similar law for scientific maintenance of records may be enacted in the State

In a democracy the ultimate power vests with the people. The Executive exercises its power and authority as the trustee of the people. Accountability is the sine qua non of democracy.
Dr B R Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution, has defended the choice of parliamentary system for India because it provides for continuous accountability of the Executive to the Legislature. Now a days it is becoming increasingly impracticable for the Legislatures to check the minute details of the entire administrative machinery. This is resulting in a democratic deficit in ensuring executive accountability. The Right to Information (RTI), as an insignia of democracy, is fulfilling this ideal and securing a government of the people, for the people and for the people.
This right to information is not something new. It is recognized by the Magna Carta, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant of Human Rights. The United National General Assembly in its first session in 1 946 has resolved that freedom of Information is a fundamental human right and is the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is committed. Sweden has enacted a law on right to information as long back as in 1766 and has become a pioneer.
The Supreme Court of India in 1 975 held in the State of UP vs Raj Narain that the people have a right to know every public act and everything that is done by their public functionaries. Justice P N Bhagawati was categorical in the S P Gupta vs Union of India that the right to information is implicit in the right to free speech and expression guaranteed under Article 1 9(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.
The Parliament has enacted the Right to Information legislation in 2005 to preserve the paramountcy of this democratic ideal and to provide for a machinery for the exercise of this basic freedom. It is one of the landmark legislations that the Parliament has enacted ever since India has become independent. It ranks 4th in the global right to information rating by the Centre for Law and Democracy
Achievements:
From October 12, 2005, the day on which the Right to Information Act has become operational, the administration has moved from the culture of secrecy to transparency and openness. It has empowered the citizens to access plethora of information under the control of anybody, or public institution created, owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Government.
There is massive participation in the form of appeals. It is a testimony to the popularity of this progressive legislation. The applications for information range from the grassroot panchayat to the apex parliament level. Thanks to the information law, the PDS records are accurate, supply of essential commodities has been streamlined, and execution of MGNREGS works has become more transparent. High profile scams 2G Spectrum, Commonwealth Games have come to light. People are also resorting to RTI requests to cut the red tape and fast track the disposal of files.
The Supreme Court has held in the case of CBSE vs Adithyanth Bandopadyaya that the students have the right to inspect their answer sheets under the Right to Information Act. RTI is instrumental in curtailing delays in implementation of welfare and development programmes facilitating effective delivery of socio-economic services to the people.
RTI Act is also helping large number of people, including those from marginalized sections of society, to redress their grievances and realize their legitimate legal rights. It has become an effective tool to tackle corruption and hold the Executive accountable on day-to-day basis. The RTI Act is promoting openness in the functioning of Government Departments and strengthening accountability resulting in efficiency and good governance.
Bottlenecks As in the case of any progressive legislation, there are number of bottlenecks and challenges in the implementation of RTI Act. The information laws are as effective as the systems that support it. In all the Departments, if senior officers are designated as Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities, it will speed up the process of disposal of applications as they will be able to take immediate decisions.
Further, there is need for regular skill development through periodical training for the PIOs and 1 st Appellate Authorities to keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in the RTI law. If the 1 st Appeals are disposed of in accordance with the law within the stipulated, the number of 2nd appeal to the Commission will come down.
The most crucial aspect of RTI law is maintenance of records. In number of cases, the PIOs come before the Commission with the plea that the records are not traceable. The RTI Act makes it mandatory for every public authority to maintain its records duly catalogued and indexed to facilitate right to information. The Act also requires every public authority to publish information on 1 6 points pertaining to their organization and update the same on regular basis. If all the public authorities implement the proactive disclosure norms sincerely, the number of applications for information would drastically come down.
The Government of India has enacted the Public Records Act to ensure proper management, maintenance and preservation of public records of Central Government and its agencies. Some of the States like Maharashtra and Karnataka have enacted identical legislation in their States and the latest among them is Goa.
The Telangana Information Commission, in its annual report for 201 7 to 2020, has recommended that a similar law for scientific maintenance of records may be enacted in the State of Telangana. This recommendation was reiterated in the subsequent reports also. The Government of Telangana has enacted a law for maintenance of revenue records and the law for general records is yet to be made.
RTI and DPDP Act:
Section 8 of the RTI Act outlines certain exemptions under which information could be denied to a citizen. Sub Section (1 )(j) of Section 8 provides exemption to personal information which has no relationship with any public activity or would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy of an individual. However, the PIOs/Appellate Authorities can order the disclosure of information if they are satisfied that such disclosure is in larger public interest.The Supreme Court in the Bihar Public Service Commission vs Saiyed Razvi held that the exemptions provided under Section 8 is the rule and only in exceptional circumstances of larger public interest could the information be disclosed. The proviso to section 8(1)(j) is very significant. The information which cannot be denied to Parliament or State Legislature shall not be denied to any person.
If any piece of personal information could be shared with the Legislature, that cannot be denied to a citizen. Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act amended Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act giving complete exemption to the personal information. It has taken away the discretionary power of the PIO/Appellate Authority to appreciate the claims of individual privacy and right to information. The DPDP Act has also removed the parliamentary equality proviso in the RTI Act. Civil society has taken objection to this change on the grounds that it has unsettled the balance between individual privacy protection and democratic accountability.
They contend that this blanket exemption would undermine the basic democratic principle of accountability as access to records crucial for exposing corruption and leakage of public expenditure could be denied. It is the stand of the Government that the amendment is in tune with the standards of privacy right laid down by the Supreme Court.
The preamble of the RTI Act specifically states that it is necessary to harmonise the conflicting interests of transparency and accountability by providing access to information and to ensure that the revelation of information does not conflict with other public interests and individual rights. It is hoped that this issue also would be resolved at the earliest.
(The writer is First Chief Information Commissioner, Telangana)

As RTI Act turns 21, activists assaulted in movement’s birthplace: Written by: Hamza Khan

The Indian Express: Article: Monday, 12^th October 2026.
Earlier, a habeas corpus petition was filed in the HC by two advocates, seeking the release of the seven detainees which included a councillor.

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) said that the incident took place around 6 pm near Chang Gate, as the ‘Ghotala Rath Yatra' was proceeding through the town. The procession, organised by MKSS and some citizens, had started from Ajmeri Gate around 4.30 pm. (File Photo)

On the eve of the 21st anniversary of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, a musical procession marking the occasion was disrupted by a group of men who allegedly assaulted social activists and women participants in Beawar, the birthplace of the RTI movement, on Sunday evening.
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) said that the incident took place around 6 pm near Chang Gate, as the ‘Ghotala Rath Yatra’ was proceeding through the town. The procession, organised by MKSS and some citizens, had started from Ajmeri Gate around 4.30 pm.
Beawar SP Ratan Singh said, “They (the activists) were taking out a procession without permission. Some people came and asked them about their slogans. There was dhakka-mukki (pushing and shoving). The police then intervened and brought both sides to the police station. Further action is underway.”
He said, “They (the activists) had no permission in writing but I have been told that they had informed (the authorities concerned) about the procession.”
Ashutosh Panday, SHO of Beawar City police station, said, “It was a clash between two groups, one was local while the other was of activists. Persons from both the groups sustained injuries. There was sloganeering, the environment is such…”
The SHO said that both sides have given a complaint; and while an FIR has been lodged on the basis of the complaint by the locals, another is being registered on the basis of the activists’ complaint.
MKSS said that women at the front of the procession were pushed and manhandled first by the attackers, who also allegedly made threatening and derogatory remarks, including “shoot those who betray the religion.”
Activists Kamal Kumar, Shubham, Kanika Kumari, Nirmala and Sakshi were among those assaulted.
“The procession was entirely peaceful and the district administration had been informed in writing about the event which had RTI activists from different parts of the country participating in the procession,” the organisation said.
MKSS has now demanded “immediate police action against the perpetrators and protection for all those attacked. The police must investigate the incident impartially, register the victims’ complaint, identify those responsible and ensure that they are held accountable under the law.”
‘Attack on democratic values’
In a statement, activists Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, Mukesh Goswami and Kamal Kumar said: “The right to organise a peaceful procession, raise questions about corruption and exercise freedom of expression is fundamental to democracy. Violence and intimidation cannot be allowed to silence citizens exercising these rights.”
They said, “This attack is not merely an assault on individual members of MKSS; it is an attack on the democratic values of peaceful assembly, public participation, transparency and accountability that the RTI movement has upheld for decades.”
The Ghotala Rath Yatra, a musical parody that uses satire to highlight corruption, has been part of the RTI movement for nearly three decades.
This year’s procession was organised as part of public awareness activities ahead of RTI Diwas on October 12, marking 21 years of the Right to Information Act, which was enacted in 2005.
Beawar, known as the birthplace of the RTI, has been closely associated with the grassroots struggle for transparency which eventually became a movement and led to the enactment of the law.

UDF questions attendance register ‘manipulation’ in Thiruvananthapuram Corpn amid signature row

The Print: Thiruvananthapuram: Sunday, 11^th October 2026.

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 10 (PTI) After the CPI(M) alleged forgery of a BJP councillor’s signature in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council attendance register, UDF parliamentary party leader (civic body) K S Sabarinadhan on Saturday raised questions about possible manipulation of official records.
In a Facebook post, Sabarinadhan said the attendance register obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act contained an entry on page 24 showing a council meeting held on March 11 at 10.30 am, while records of the council meeting on March 5 were missing.
He questioned whether the attendance register officially provided by the corporation authorities under the RTI Act was itself fabricated.
He also wondered whether the attack on UDF councillors and the seizure of the attendance register during a council meeting in June were intended to prevent the alleged irregularities from coming to light.
Sabarinadhan said the UDF would urge the government and the State Information Commission to investigate the alleged forged signature as well as the suspected manipulation of official records.
The controversy comes after the Museum police registered a case against Mayor V V Rajesh, councillor K Sugathan and the corporation secretary following a complaint by CPI(M) councillor S P Deepak.
Deepak alleged that Sugathan’s signature had been forged in the attendance register for council meetings held on February 26, March 11 and April 27 this year.
Sugathan had reportedly gone absconding before being arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) in connection with multiple criminal cases.
The FIR alleged that the accused conspired to forge Sugathan’s signature in the attendance register.
Prolonged absence from council meetings could lead to disqualification under relevant provisions of the Kerala Municipality Act, officials said.
Rajesh has denied the allegation of forgery and issued a legal notice to Deepak.
The mayor claimed that photographs were available showing Sugathan attending the council meetings.
The LDF on Friday staged a protest at the corporation office, demanding Rajesh’s resignation.
The BJP came to power in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in last year’s local body elections, ending the LDF’s 45-year rule.
The corporation has 101 wards, and the BJP currently holds a narrow majority of 51 councillors.
Meanwhile, the BJP on Saturday carried out a protest march to the Museum police station, demanding the withdrawal of the case against Rajesh and Sugathan.
Inaugurating the protest march, Thiruvananthapuram City District President Karamana Jayan assured that the BJP will protect the Mayor at any cost.
He said that Deepak and Sabarinadhan, who are from opposing political fronts, are united to gain power in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
“How is it that when a complaint regarding a fake document came up, the Museum police immediately registered an FIR? The Museum police station here is currently operating as headquarters for the Congress. BJP is demanding that the case registered against the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram city must be quashed,” he said. PTI TBA TBA ROH
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Ziro Students Learn How to File RTI Applications at Awareness Programme

Arunachal24: Arunachal Pradesh: Sunday, 11^th October 2026.
The programme at Saint Claret College introduced students to the practical process of filing RTI applications and approaching Public Information Officers.

The Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission (APIC), in collaboration with the Lower Subansiri District Administration, organised an RTI awareness programme at Saint Claret College in Ziro on Saturday to familiarise students with their rights under the Right to Information framework and promote transparency in governance.
The programme, held as part of RTI Celebration Week, brought together students, faculty members, district officials and senior representatives of the Information Commission. It focused on the role of the Right to Information (RTI) in promoting accountability and enabling citizens to seek information from public authorities.
State Chief Information Commissioner Jarken Gamlin delivered the keynote address, highlighting the importance of RTI in democratic governance. He also appreciated the participation of students and emphasised the value of encouraging young people to understand and exercise their information rights.
Gamlin was accompanied by State Information Commissioners Vijay Taram, Khopey Thaley and Dani Gambo.
The programme began with a welcome address by Circle Officer Hibu Kapi, followed by remarks from the principal of Saint Claret College, who highlighted the importance of developing civic awareness among students.
Practical guidance on filing RTI applications
A presentation on the RTI framework was followed by an interactive session in which participants learned about the process of filing RTI applications and approaching Public Information Officers (PIOs).
The session focused on helping students understand how citizens can use the mechanism to seek information held by public authorities. The practical orientation was intended to make the process more accessible to young people and encourage informed participation in public affairs.
The Right to Information Act, 2005, provides a legal framework for citizens to request information from public authorities, subject to exemptions and other provisions under the law. Awareness of the application process and the responsibilities of designated information officers is important for effective use of the mechanism.
Encouraging informed citizenship
The programme sought to strengthen understanding of transparency, accountability and citizen participation among the younger generation.
By bringing students into direct engagement with the Information Commission, the initiative provided an opportunity to discuss how access to information can support public scrutiny and informed civic engagement.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by the National Anthem.

Bhiwandi: Secrecy Over 9 Nominated Corporator Posts Sparks Row; RTI Seeks Applicant List, Eligibility Records

 FPJ: Mumbai: Sunday, 11^th October 2026.
The selection of nine nominated corporators in Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation has sparked controversy over undisclosed applicant lists and eligibility scrutiny. Meanwhile, a dispute within the Samajwadi Party over its nominee has intensified tensions ahead of the October 14 general body meeting, when the names are expected to be announced.

The selection of nine nominated corporators to the Bhiwandi-Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) has triggered a fresh political controversy with questions being raised over the secrecy surrounding the selection process. Despite the September 28 deadline for applications having passed, the civic administration has not made public the complete list of applicants or disclosed details of the scrutiny of their eligibility. With the names scheduled to be announced at the general body meeting on October 14, a demand for transparency has now reached the district administration, with an RTI application seeking official records related to the nominations.
Congress Leader Seeks Transparency
Senior Congress leader and former chairman of the Maharashtra State Small Industries Development Corporation, Mohammed Tariq Farooqui, has written to Thane District Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal, seeking scrutiny of the applicants legal eligibility and disclosure of the records. He has also sought certified copies of nomination-related documents under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, arguing that transparency is essential to ensure the process is conducted in accordance with the rules.
Farooqui has sought the names of all applicants their political affiliations application registration numbers, nomination forms, affidavits and records relating to the scrutiny and acceptance or rejection of applications. He has stated that the documents are required for judicial purposes and may be produced as evidence before a court. His nephew, Maaz Farooqui, was also among those who applied for a nominated corporator’s post.
Civic body yet to disclose list
The continued non-disclosure of the applicants’ list has raised questions about the civic administration’s handling of the selection process. The Free Press Journal contacted Municipal Commissioner Anmol Sagar through WhatsApp and text messages, seeking an explanation for the delay and the administration’s response to allegations that the list was being withheld. However, no response had been received until the time of publication.
BNCMC Public Relations Officer Shrikant Pardeshi also confirmed that the complete list had not been released but could not clarify why it remained undisclosed.
Earlier reports put the total number of applications at 37, including applications received from individuals and organisations. The absence of an officially published consolidated list has made it difficult to independently verify the applicants’ details and the status of their nominations.
Party-wise quota and proposed names
The 90-member civic body has nine nominated corporator positions to be filled on the basis of the political parties’ representation. Congress is entitled to three seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to two, and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Samajwadi Party (SP), Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Konark Vikas Aghadi to one seat each.
According to the proposed list circulating ahead of the October 14 meeting, Congress nominees include Imran Ansari, Arafat Shaikh and Salim Shaikh. The BJP’s proposed names are Sugandha Tawre and Ravi Sawant, while Girish Mhatre has been proposed from the NCP (SP), Sanjay Kabukar from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Bharat Jaglani from the SP and Mayur Patil from the Konark Vikas Aghadi.
However, the civic administration has not publicly released the complete applicant list or independently confirmed the proposed names. The list should therefore not be treated as the final official selection until it is formally announced.
SP’s official nominee sparks controversy
The sharpest political dispute has emerged within the Samajwadi Party, which is entitled to one nominated corporator’s post. Party state president MLA Abu Asim Azmi had declared Sarfaraz Shaikh the official candidate and issued a whip in his favour. However, allegations have surfaced that BNCMC SP group leader Areeb Shaikh agreed to the candidature of Bharat Jaglani, who is associated with the BJP.
SP Bhiwandi president Riyaz Azmi said action would be taken against the group leader for violating the party whip. The controversy has exposed a widening rift over the party’s choice for the nominated post and intensified scrutiny of the selection process.

Who Was Rakhini Mipi: The RTI Activist Found Dead In Arunachal

Outlook India: National: Saturday, 10^th October 2026.
The Assam Rifles rifleman had challenged alleged irregularities in public projects and raised concerns over environmental violations and electoral rolls.

Rakhini Mipi, an RTI activist and rifleman with the 24th Assam Rifles, was found dead at an Army transit camp in Hunli on October 4. Photo: X

Summary of this article:

• Rakhini Mipi, an RTI activist and rifleman with the 24th Assam Rifles, was found dead at an Army transit camp in Hunli on October 4.
• Mipi had challenged alleged irregularities in public projects and raised environmental concerns over highway construction.
• Police registered a case of unnatural death, while the circumstances surrounding his death remain unresolved.

Rakhini Mipi, a rifleman with the 24th Assam Rifles and a Right to Information (RTI) activist from Arunachal Pradesh, was found dead at an Army transit camp in Hunli, in Lower Dibang Valley district, on October 4. Police registered a case of unnatural death and began investigating the circumstances. They had not ruled out foul play, according to The Arunachal Times.
Mipi used the RTI Act and legal proceedings to question alleged irregularities in government projects and raise concerns about environmental violations during highway construction. He also opposed the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project and questioned electoral-roll entries in Dibang Valley.
His Work As An RTI Activist
Mipi was from Dibang Valley and served in the 24th Assam Rifles while pursuing complaints about public works and environmental protection.
According to The Arunachal Times, Mipi was travelling with his unit to Anini for an Armed Forces warfare exercise. The unit reached Hunli on the evening of October 3. According to Hunli police station officer-in-charge Inspector Mohon Mili, Mipi was found hanging in the bathroom of an Army transit camp near the Circuit House at around 7.10 am the following morning.
Police registered a case of unnatural death, and his body was taken to Roing for a post-mortem examination before being handed over to his family. In its initial report, The Arunachal Times said police had not ruled out foul play and had yet to record statements from family members.
The Projects And Alleged Irregularities He Challenged
Mipi approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over alleged environmental violations during the construction of National Highway 313, which connects Roing, Hunli and Anini. The case involved the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and contractors working on the highway.
The NGT's July 20, 2022, judgment in Rakhini Mipi vs State of Arunachal Pradesh records allegations that construction debris was being dumped outside designated sites, including on forest land and into rivers. Inspections by the Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board identified environmental violations, including improper dumping, damage to vegetation and inadequate dust-control measures.
The Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board imposed environmental compensation of Rs 3,28,68,750 on NHIDCL over improper dumping by road construction companies. NHIDCL paid the compensation before the application was disposed of. The tribunal directed the state government and pollution control board to protect forests and rivers from pollution and environmental damage.
The Arunachal Times reported that Mipi had raised allegations of irregularities in Jal Jeevan Mission projects in Dibang Valley, which aim to provide tap-water connections to rural households.
Ukhrul Times reported that Mipi had raised allegations in 2022 about roads built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. He questioned whether structures listed in project reports had been built, whether road works met prescribed specifications and whether population figures in detailed project reports had been manipulated.
Mipi also opposed the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, questioning attempts to prepare its pre-feasibility report despite opposition from sections of the local population. The proposed dam has prompted concerns about its potential environmental and social consequences.
Mipi had also raised concerns on social media about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Dibang Valley. He alleged that people who were not members of Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes (APSTs) had been included in the electoral rolls, raising concerns about electoral representation.
What Is Known About His Death?
The circumstances of Mipi's death remain unresolved. The available reporting does not establish whether another person was involved, and the cause of death should not be treated as settled before the investigative findings are available.
Maktoob Media reported that Ebo Milo, a relative and lawyer, has expressed suspicions of foul play. Milo said Mipi had been in good mental condition and had shown no signs of distress. He also referred to legal proceedings pursued using information Mipi had obtained.