GSPCB to Inspect Curchorem Sewage Plant After RTI Reveals Missing EIA Report

Herald Goa: Panaji: Friday, 18 July 2025.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will conduct a joint site inspection of the under-construction sewage treatment plant (STP) at Curchorem on Monday, July 21, in coordination with the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), following serious allegations of environmental violations.

The inspection has been prompted by a formal complaint lodged by environmental activist Aditya Dessai, who claims that the project went ahead without obtaining the mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA) clearance. The STP is being built on the banks of the Zuari river, and Dessai alleges that mangroves were destroyed due to landfilling carried out within the high tide line an activity that contravenes provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Adding weight to the allegations, a recent response from GSPCB to a Right to Information (RTI) query has confirmed that no EIA report was prepared for the project. The board simply stated: “The EIA report not available.”
According to Dessai, this omission violates the EIA Notification, 2006, as well as a ruling by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that mandates prior environmental clearance for STPs. His complaint also points out that the sewage line for the facility passes through the Cacora Industrial Estate and will carry industrial effluents.
He argues that this places the project squarely under the category of combined effluent treatment plants, for which environmental clearance is compulsory if industrial waste exceeds 10% of the volume handled.
The RTI findings further revealed that while the project had received nods from the local municipal body and the Town and Country Planning Department, these approvals were granted without any form of environmental assessment.
Key project documents, including pre-construction water quality data, public consultation records, and evaluations of mangrove loss, are absent from the official files, according to the RTI response.
In his complaint to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Dessai has demanded that all approvals issued for the Curchorem STP be withdrawn. He has urged the authorities to carry out a thorough environmental assessment and relocate the plant to a site away from ecologically sensitive zones such as riverbanks, floodplains, and catchment areas.
The RTI documents revealed project received without any form of environmental assessment
Project documents, including pre-construction water quality data, public consultation records, evaluations of mangrove loss absent from the official files

Over 26,500 people died on Mumbai railway tracks in 10 years: RTI data reveals

Hindustan Times: Mumbai: Friday, 18 July 2025.
A bulk of the deaths, at 17,212, were reported on the CR network, which is more expansive than the WR network

Track trespassing, falling off trains and pre-existing illnesses
– the top three causes of deaths – accounted
for 24,989 fatalities (Hindustan Times)

A total of 26,547 people lost their lives on railway tracks in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region between January 2015 and May 2025, according to data sourced via a Right to Information (RTI) application. The deaths occurred on the suburban network under the Central Railways (CR) and Western Railways (WR), with trespass on railway tracks accounting for the highest number of deaths at 14,175.
Track trespassing, falling off trains and pre-existing illnesses the top three causes of deaths accounted for 24,989 fatalities, shows the data obtained by activist Godfrey Pimenta from Watchdog Foundation, a nonprofit. Other reasons included being hit by a railway pole, falling into the gap between the train and the platform, electric shock, suicide and natural death.
A bulk of the deaths, at 17,212, were reported on the CR network, which is more expansive than the WR network. The highest number of deaths in a year, at 3,304, were recorded in 2015, while the lowest deaths in a year, at 1,116, were recorded in 2020.
The RTI application was filed in the aftermath of the tragedy on June 9, when five commuters died after falling off local trains near Mumbra railway station.
“The number of fatalities is quite high. Railway officials must initiate measures and interventions to reduce fatalities, especially due to crossing of railway lines,” Pimenta told HT. The penalty for trespassing on tracks must be increased to deter people from crossing railway lines and reduce fatalities, Pimenta added.
A WR official said they had adopted the ‘Zero Death Mission’ initiative to curb trespassing on tracks.
“Under this initiative, we have constructed additional foot over bridges, installed escalators and elevators, raised the height of platforms, erected fences of sufficient height between railway tracks at station premises and trespassing-prone spots,” the official said. “Besides, we have constructed boundary walls to plug gaps and conducted drives regularly to remove encroachments along the tracks.”
Similar measures have been adopted on the CR network, in addition to the closure of level-crossing gates, said officials.
Additionally, both CR and WR hold regular awareness drives, including with help from celebrities and NGOs. Celebrities roped in by WR include Sachin Tendulkar, John Abraham and Jackie Shroff.

Last-minute cancellation of NEET PG 2024 cost government Rs 11 crore: RTI reply

New Indian Express: Delhi: Friday, 18 July 2025.
According to a response to an RTI query, the rescheduled exam held in August 2024 ended up costing more than the original exam scheduled for June.

The sudden cancellation of the NEET PG exam in June last year
led to a huge financial loss to the government as the
rescheduled test cost more than the original amount
Photo | ANI

The cancellation of the NEET PG 2024 exam has come under sharp scrutiny after it was revealed that the decision cost the government significantly. According to a response to an RTI query, the rescheduled exam held in August 2024 ended up costing more than the original exam scheduled for June.
The sudden cancellation of the NEET PG exam in June last year led to a huge financial loss to the government as the rescheduled test cost more than the original amount. According to a response from the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences to an RTI query, the decision to scrap the exam just hours before its scheduled start in June 2024 resulted in a loss of more than Rs 11 crores.
According to the RTI response, the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), which oversees the NEET PG exam, paid a total of Rs 11.02 crore to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for conducting the exam in June 2024. However, the rescheduled exam, held in August, required a total reorganization and a further Rs 13.24 crore expenditure. This brings the total cost for conducting the exam to more than Rs 24 crore.
The cancellation was reportedly a precautionary measure, taken by the Union Health Ministry in the wake of ongoing controversies surrounding the NEET exam and the UGC NET exam from the previous year. However, the decision to scrap the exam, only hours before it was supposed to begin, left countless students in a state of chaos. Candidates were forced to navigate last-minute changes.
Dr Aman Kaushik, who filed the RTI query, said the move had financial implications that also placed undue stress on students. “The government must take necessary action to prevent these instances in the future,” he commented.
Dr Rohan Krishnan, Chief Patron of the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), said the abrupt cancellation was poorly handled.
“Several doctors’ associations had appealed for the exam to be postponed well in advance, but those warnings were ignored. Many students had already reached their centers when the cancellation was announced,” he said.“Now we learn that a huge payment was still made despite the chaos. If these funds aren’t being treated as public money, they’re being used without oversight. This kind of mismanagement raises serious concerns, including the possibility of corruption within the system,” he added.

Pune Law Student Fights Savitribai Phule Pune University for Access to His Own Marks Ledger : Vinita Deshmukh

Moneylife: Pune: Friday, 18 July 2025.
Isn’t it natural that when you get your mark sheet, you get to see your marks? Well, the internationally acclaimed Savitribai Phule University Pune (SBUP) provides only credits and grades and it is the marks ledger in which the marks are provided.

So what’s the controversy? In a bizarre state of affairs, a private law college in Pune (name undisclosed at request of the RTI applicant) refused to provide Ganesh Chavan, a third-year law student, his own marks ledger. Thus began his fight for transparency as, without it, his opportunity for internship remains bleak, as his academic performance would be unable to be precisely assessed by the potential employer. His, he says, is not a freak case but claims it is affecting thousands of students. In the same vein, several other colleges, which he checked, do provide the student with the marks ledger.
Mr Chavan, a former IT employee who has given up his job to pursue social and community good through right to information (RTI), began his transparency journey by filing RTIs for his village Madha in Solapur district. The arterial road was pending for four decades but after he used RTI and pursued it with the authorities, the road was built a few years back and resembles a highway. Similarly, he used the RTI route to get two state transport (ST) buses for travel to and from Madha-Solapur as, without this transport, the villagers were highly inconvenienced.
He approached the college authorities in mid-February this year after his third-semester results were out on 2nd January. He was told that the marks ledger could not be provided to him. Shocked that his own academic performance could be “confidential” he filed an RTI with SPPU University on 21st February. However, the public information officer (PIO) responded vaguely, stating the information was confidential without citing any specific exemption clause under section 8 of the RTI Act.
On 28th February, the RTI was forwarded to the examination department and the college under the clause of ‘third party clearance’ but there was no reply. His first appeal to the university also drew a blank as strangely the first appellate authority (FAA) upheld the PIO’s reply, denying him information on the grounds of a fiduciary relationship too, besides confidentiality.
On 4th April, Mr Chavan then filed a complaint with the information commissioner, Pune zone, Maharashtra state information commissioner (SCIC) and the central information commissioner (CIC) but he has not received any response. He has appealed for immediate relief to his appeal of expediting the matter as his job opportunity is at stake.
Distressed at the delay, Mr Chavan has launched an online petition titled “Provide Individual Marks Ledger Through Student Identity Manager Portal of SPPU” this week.
The following arethe high points of his petition:

• Who is impacted? : Thousands of students across Maharashtra studying in SPPU-affiliated colleges are affected. With no direct access through the university’s student identity manager (SIM) portal, students are forced to rely on college administration often a bottleneck riddled with delays, inefficiencies and red tape.
• What’s at stake? : The lack of access leads to missed job and educational opportunities. Students cannot verify evaluation errors, leading to unresolved discrepancies. This issue hits hardest in rural and under-resourced colleges, where physical follow-ups are time-consuming and sometimes unaffordable.
• What’s the solution? : Making marks ledgers available digitally through the SIM portal would mean transparency, quicker turnaround for students, reduced burden on college administrators, and restoration of trust in the university’s functioning.
• Why now? : As most Indian universities move toward digitisation and student-friendly transparency policies, SPPU risks lagging behind. The infrastructure already exists in the form of the SIM portal; only the implementation of this reform is pending. “This is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” argues Mr Chavan and adds, “Students must not be forced to beg for their own marks. It is time for the university to modernise and empower students with direct access to what rightfully belongs to them.”

Mr Chavan’s petition is addressed to CM Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra; CP Radhakrishnan, governor and chancellor of universities in Maharashtra and vice-chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University.

RTI revamp: Blocking information to cost five times more

Jagonews24: Bangladesh: Friday, 18 July 2025.
The interim government is set to overhaul the Right to Information Act, 2009, with amendments aimed at enhancing access to government information and imposing stricter penalties for obstruction.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, acting on recommendations from the Public Administration Reform Commission, has drafted changes to four key sections of the law, increasing fines for denying information fivefold, from Tk 5,000 to Tk 25,000.
Strengthening transparency
The Public Administration Reform Commission, in its February 5, 2025, report to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, urged a review of the RTI Act to ensure citizens can easily access government service-related information.
The commission proposed specific amendments, which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has incorporated into a revised draft.
Khadija Tahera Bobby, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, told Jago News, “We’ve held inter-ministerial meetings and are collecting opinions on the draft until July 31. The law will be amended soon after completing all processes.”
Key amendments to the RTI Act
The draft amendments target sections 5, 6, 7, and 27 of the RTI Act 2009, focusing on information preservation, disclosure, exemptions, and penalties:
Section 5 (Preservation of Information): Authorities must catalog and index all information, storing it appropriately, including digitising records for nationwide network access. This ensures timely responses to information requests and enhances accessibility through computer-based storage.
Section 6 (Disclosure of Information): Authorities are mandated to proactively publish and disseminate information, including budgets, financial reports, audit outcomes, procurement processes, tender results, and contract details. This aims to ensure transparency in government operations and spending.
Section 7 (Exemptions): Two new sub-sections allow authorities to disclose certain information in the public interest, even if previously exempt, broadening access in specific cases.
Section 27 (Penalties): The penalty for obstructing access to information will rise from Tk 50 per day (up to Tk 5,000) to Tk 250 per day (up to Tk 25,000). If obstruction is found to conceal wrongdoing or corruption, imposing a fine becomes mandatory, signalling a zero-tolerance approach.
A push for accountability
The amendments reflect the interim government’s commitment to fostering transparency and accountability, addressing long-standing barriers to information access.
The fivefold penalty increase aims to deter deliberate obstruction, particularly in cases involving corruption.
The draft also emphasises proactive disclosure, requiring authorities to publish detailed financial and operational data to empower citizens.
As the consultation period wraps up by July 31, 2025, the ministry is poised to finalise the amendments, marking a significant step toward a more open and accountable governance system in Bangladesh.

Over ₹238 cr released for NCR under EPC funds for clean-air plans: RTI

Business Standard: New Delhi: Friday, 18 July 2025.
The funds were disbursed to ULBs in Gurugram, Jind, Narnaul, Nuh, Palwal, Greater Noida, Hapur, Bharatpur and Bhiwadi through the respective SPCBs

According to the CPCB's guidelines, three-fourths of the
annual EPC funds are earmarked for such initiatives across
19 NCR cities. File Photo

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released more than Rs 238 crore to nine urban local bodies (ULBs) in the NCR as part of its efforts to support city-level air pollution control under the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) funds, an RTI reply has revealed.
The funds were disbursed to ULBs in Gurugram, Jind, Narnaul, Nuh, Palwal, Greater Noida, Hapur, Bharatpur and Bhiwadi through the respective state pollution control boards (SPCBs), according to the reply provided by the CPCB's air quality management division to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on June 17.
Additionally, the release of Rs 18.56 crore for seven other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) Bahadurgarh, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Daruhera, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat -- is currently under process through the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the reply said.
The funds are meant to serve as gap-funding support for implementing the city action plans for air-quality improvement.
According to the CPCB's guidelines, three-fourths of the annual EPC funds are earmarked for such initiatives across 19 NCR cities.
In response to a query regarding projects under the EPC funds, the CPCB said it releases money to urban bodies as and when work orders are received for activities, such as the procurement of mechanical road-sweeping machines (MRSMs), anti-smog guns (ASGs) and pavement and road-improvement work.
The RTI query was filed by Dehradun-based activist Amit Gupta, who said a significant amount remains unused under the EPC and EC funds. "It is high time that the CPCB starts using these funds effectively for pollution control," he said.
He also pointed out that the peak pollution season is just three months away and emphasised that the EPC and EC funds could be effectively utilised to control pollution in Delhi-NCR and nearby areas. "I hope that the CPCB will ensure more transparency in the use of these funds," Gupta added.
The reply also highlighted a major push to curb stubble burning by incentivising cleaner alternatives.
Apart from infrastructure and mitigation efforts, the CPCB said it is also considering proposals for scientific studies related to air-quality assessment, pollution modelling, mitigation technologies and the health impacts of air pollution under the EPC funding.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

RTI : हर साल हो रहीं 83 लाख मौतें, पर 14 वर्षों में आधार निष्क्रिय हुए सिर्फ 1.15 करोड़'; आरटीआई में खुलासा

Amar Ujala: New Delhi: Thursday, 17 July 2025.
भारतीय विशिष्ट पहचान प्राधिकरण (यूआईडीएआई) ने 14 साल पहले कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत के बाद से केवल 1.15 करोड़ आधार नंबरों को निष्क्रिय किया है, यह आंकड़ा देश की मृत्यु दर को देखते हुए नाटकीय रूप से काफी कम है। एक सूचना के अधिकार (आरटीआई) आवेदन से इस बात की पुष्टि हुई है। आइए इस बारे में विस्तार से जानें।

आधार कार्ड - फोटो : istock

देश में हर साल औसतन 83 लाख लोगों की मौतें हो रही हैं। दूसरी ओर, भारतीय विशिष्ट पहचान प्राधिकरण (यूआईडीएआई) ने 14 साल पहले कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत के बाद से केवल 1.15 करोड़ आधार नंबरों को निष्क्रिय किया है। यह आंकड़ा देश की मृत्यु दर को देखते हुए नाटकीय रूप से काफी कम है। एक मीडिया हाउस की ओर से दायर सूचना के अधिकार (आरटीआई) आवेदन से इस बात की पुष्टि हुई है।
जून 2025 तक, भारत में 142.39 करोड़ आधार धारक है। संयुक्त राष्ट्र जनसंख्या कोष के अनुसार, अप्रैल 2025 तक देश की कुल जनसंख्या 146.39 करोड़ हो जाएगी। दूसरी ओर, नागरिक पंजीकरण प्रणाली (सीआरएस) के आधिकारिक आंकड़ों से पता चलता है कि भारत में 2007 से 2019 के बीच हर साल औसतन 83.5 लाख मौतें हुईं।
इसके बावजूद, यूआईडीएआई की ओर से मृत लोगों आधार नंबर को निष्क्रिय करने स्पीड आश्चर्यजनक रूप से कम है। कुल अनुमानित मौतों में से 10 प्रतिशत से भी कम मामलों में आधार नंबर को निष्क्रिय किया गया है। अधिकारियों ने स्वीकार किया है कि आधार नंबर को निष्क्रिय करने की प्रक्रिया जटिल है और काफी हद तक राज्य सरकारों की ओर से जारी मृत्यु प्रमाण पत्र और परिवार के सदस्यों की ओर से दी गई जानकारी जैसे बाहरी आंकड़ों पर निर्भर करती है।
यूआईडीएआई यह भी बताया है कि वह आधार के निष्क्रिय होने या जो लोग मृत हो चुके हैं, उसके बाद भी उनके आधार कार्ड सिस्टम में सक्रिय हैं, ऐसा कोई डेटा अपने पास नहीं रखता है। इस खुलासे लोगों लोगों की मौत के बाद उनके सक्रिय आधार नंबर के दुरुपयोग की चिंताएं बढ़ा दी हैं। यह एक ऐसी ऐसी खामी है जो सरकारी योजनाओं, सब्सिडी और अन्य पहचान-संबंधी सेवाओं को प्रभावित कर सकती है।
विशेषज्ञों का मानना है कि इस बेमेल स्थिति ने लोगो की मृत्यु  मृत्यु रजिस्ट्री और आधार डेटाबेस के बीच बेहतर तालमेल की आवश्यकता को उजागर किया है, ताकि दोहराव, पहचान की धोखाधड़ी और कल्याणकारी योजनाओं के वितरण में लीकेज को रोका जा सके।

Aadhaar still active for the dead: RTI reveals just 1.15 crore deactivations in 14 years : Ashok Upadhyay

Business Today: Delhi: Thursday, 17 July 2025.

As of June 2025, UIDAI data shows that 142.39 crore Aadhaar numbers remain active.
An RTI query filed by India Today TV has revealed that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated just 1.15 crore Aadhaar numbers since the programme began 14 years ago a figure that stands in sharp contrast to India’s average annual mortality rate.
As of June 2025, UIDAI data shows that 142.39 crore Aadhaar numbers remain active. According to the United Nations Population Fund, India’s population stood at 146.39 crore in April 2025. Yet between 2007 and 2019, India recorded an average of 83.5 lakh deaths per year, as per the Civil Registration System (CRS). Despite this, UIDAI has deactivated less than 10 per cent of the Aadhaar numbers that should logically have been removed.
Responding to the RTI, UIDAI said, "As and when RGI shares death records information along with Aadhaar numbers to UIDAI; UIDAI, after due process, deactivates the Aadhaar number of the deceased Aadhaar holders."
Officials acknowledged that deactivation is cumbersome and relies on external data such as death certificates and notifications from state governments or family members. UIDAI also admitted that it does not track Aadhaar exclusions and maintains "no such information" on the number of residents who do not possess an Aadhaar number.
The first Aadhaar number was issued in September 2010 in Nandurbar, Maharashtra. Yet despite more than a decade of operation, UIDAI does not maintain year-wise deactivation data. In response to a query on annual figures for the past five years, the authority stated: "No such information is maintained year-wise. However, the total number of Aadhaar numbers deactivated on the basis of death report data received from RGI, since the inception of the Aadhaar programme till 31.12.2024, is 1,14,69,869."
To streamline the process, the UIDAI issued revised deactivation guidelines in August 2023. These mandate that death records from the Civil Registration System must first match Aadhaar data with at least 90% name match and 100% gender match. If a match is confirmed, UIDAI checks whether the number was used for biometric authentication or updated after the date of death. If no activity is found, the Aadhaar number is deactivated. In case of post-death activity, the system flags the case for further verification.
If an Aadhaar number already marked as deactivated is used again, UIDAI sends an alert to the user, who must visit an Aadhaar centre or regional office for biometric verification to request reactivation.
The failure to update records of the deceased has also skewed Aadhaar saturation rates, particularly in states like Bihar. During the recent Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls, several districts in the Seemanchal region Kishanganj (126%), Katihar and Araria (123% each), Purnia (121%), and Sheikhpura (118%) reported Aadhaar saturation rates above 100%.
Aadhaar saturation is defined as the ratio of Aadhaar holders to the projected population. UIDAI clarified in the RTI response that unremoved records of the deceased contribute to inflated local Aadhaar numbers: "When Aadhaar numbers of the deceased are not promptly deactivated, they continue to inflate local saturation figures, sometimes resulting in more Aadhaar holders than actual residents."
UIDAI steps up efforts to deactivate Aadhaar
UIDAI has introduced several measures to ensure the responsible and secure use of Aadhaar numbers, especially after the death of a cardholder. Recognising the risk of identity misuse, UIDAI is proactively deactivating Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals after thorough validation. As part of this effort, UIDAI has received around 1.55 crore death records from 24 States and Union Territories through the Registrar General of India’s Civil Registration System, resulting in the deactivation of approximately 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers.
To simplify the process for citizens, UIDAI launched the “Reporting of Death of a Family Member” service on the myAadhaar portal in June 2025. This allows family members to submit death details of their relatives using Aadhaar and Death Registration Numbers, enabling secure and verified deactivation. Integration of other States/UTs with this portal is ongoing.
UIDAI is also collecting death records from banks, Aadhaar ecosystem partners, and State Governments. As a pilot, data of Aadhaar holders aged 100+ is being shared with States to verify their living status. UIDAI recommends families report deaths promptly on the myAadhaar portal to help prevent misuse of the deceased’s digital identity.

Supreme Court’s ₹2.6-Crore Glass Partition Removed Within a Year, RTI Reveals ₹2.68 Crore Total Spend

Law Trend: Delhi: Thursday, 17 July 2025.
In a striking revelation, an RTI query has found that the Supreme Court’s glass partitions installed at a cost of ₹2.6 crore during the tenure of former Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud were dismantled within a year at an additional cost of ₹8.6 lakh.

The information, obtained by India Today journalist Ashok Kumar Upadhyay, has spotlighted the substantial public expenditure involved in installing and then removing the glass panels that had redefined the visual and spatial landscape of India’s highest court.
During his tenure as CJI from November 2022 to May 2025, Justice Chandrachud introduced several reforms to modernise the Supreme Court. One of the most visible among them was the installation of glass partitions along the historic corridors outside the first five courtrooms. This move aimed to facilitate centralised air conditioning and improve the infrastructure, reflecting his broader vision to modernise judicial spaces.
However, the move was met with strong opposition from the Bar. Both the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) raised concerns that the partitions narrowed corridor space, caused congestion, and hampered the free movement of lawyers during busy court hours. Moreover, they criticised the lack of consultation with the Bar, despite its central role in the court’s functioning.
After Justice Chandrachud’s retirement, the SCBA formally requested his successor, CJI Sanjiv Khanna, to remove the glass panels. While no immediate decision was taken during Justice Khanna’s short tenure, the matter was promptly addressed after Justice B.R. Gavai assumed office as Chief Justice.
Justice Gavai committed publicly to restoring the Supreme Court’s corridors to their original state. A Full Court meeting involving all Supreme Court judges was convened, and it was unanimously decided to dismantle the glass partitions. The removal was completed in June 2025.
According to the RTI response, the glass installation project cost ₹2,59,79,230 and was carried out by contractor M/s B.M. Gupta & Sons through an online e-tendering process via the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) portal. The removal of the panels cost an additional ₹8,63,700. In total, ₹2.68 crore was spent from the Supreme Court’s infrastructure development budget an amount ultimately borne by the Indian taxpayer through the Union budget allocated to judicial services.
The Supreme Court administration clarified that the decision to remove the glass partitions was a collective one, not solely the directive of the new CJI.
The dismantling of the glass partitions is not the only reversal of the Chandrachud-era changes. Justice Gavai also restored the Supreme Court’s original logo featuring the State Emblem of India, which had been altered during September 2024 under Justice Chandrachud’s tenure.
Source: India Today

Denied, Delayed, Diverted: RTI Appeal Exposes Systemic Stonewalling of Relief Data for Manipur Ethnic Conflict Victims

The Frontier Manipur: Manipur: Thursday, 17 July 2025.

The original RTI application, dated 16 August 2024, sought detailed data on schemes, beneficiary lists, sanction orders, and relief measures implemented for IDPs displaced during the ethnic violence that escalated in May 2023. Despite the grave humanitarian stakes, the response was riddled with non-answers, delays, and redirection to other departments.
TFM Special Report
In a powerful appeal to the Manipur Information Commission, Wahengbam Joykumar Singh, a citizen from Imphal East, has blown the lid off what he alleges is a systemic attempt by state authorities to block crucial public information about relief measures for thousands of victims and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the ongoing Meitei–Kuki-Zo ethnic conflict in Manipur.
Citing the Supreme Court’s judgment in W.P. No. 990 of 2021 (Kishan Chand Jain vs Union of India) which reaffirms the statutory obligation of public authorities to proactively disclose information under Section 4 of the RTI Act, Wahengbam Joykumar’s appeal (Case No. 2 of 2025) levels serious allegations against the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and the Home Department for failing to disclose, diverting the request, and ultimately providing what he calls “misleading and incomplete” responses.
Timeline of Delay and Obstruction
The original RTI application, dated 16 August 2024, sought detailed data on schemes, beneficiary lists, sanction orders, and relief measures implemented for IDPs displaced during the ethnic violence that escalated in May 2023. Despite the grave humanitarian stakes, the response was riddled with non-answers, delays, and redirection to other departments.

• October 2024: A First Appeal was filed after the SPIO of the CM’s Office failed to reply within the statutory 30-day period. The appeal also received no response.
• January 2025: A second appeal was filed with the Manipur Information Commission, but the applicant was again told the matter had been “transferred to the Home Department,” with no formal intimation.
• April 2025: The applicant submitted a rejoinder noting that the reply from the Home Department’s Joint Secretary (Home), Balkrishna Heisnam, was “false, incomplete and misleading.”
• March 2025: Nearly 7 months after the initial RTI, the Home Department released partial data but failed to respond to the most crucial aspects specifically the list of beneficiaries, selection criteria, and the process of fund allocation.

What the RTI Reply Shows
The documents finally disclosed by the Home Department (signed by Joint Secretary H. Balkrishna Singh) reveal a staggering Rs 475.06 crore approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) across several relief schemes. These include:

• Rs101.75 crore for operation of relief camps
• Rs 145.18 crore for temporary housing for 3000 homes
• Rs 89.22 crore for nutrition and hygiene
• Rs 38.60 crore for agricultural crop loss
• 5.65 crore (pending) for clothing and personal belongings

However, the names of the actual beneficiaries, selection processes, criteria, and soft copies of relevant files were either withheld or redirected to various Deputy Commissioners, whose compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act (proactive disclosure) remains questionable.
Violation of RTI Act and Supreme Court Directives
The appeal highlights that despite the Supreme Court’s explicit order directing State Information Commissions to ensure the enforcement of Section 4, the Manipur authorities have failed to upload essential relief information on their websites, thereby violating the Right to Life and Dignity of affected citizens.
Quoting the apex court, the appellant emphasizes: “The purpose and object of the statute will be accomplished only if the principle of accountability governs the relationship between ‘right holders’ and ‘duty bearers’.”
Calls for Accountability
Singh’s appeal prays for:

• A directive for proactive disclosure by the C.M. Secretariat and all concerned authorities;
• Appointment of designated SPIO and Appellate Authority in the CM’s Office;
• Penalty under Section 20 of the RTI Act against responsible officers;
• Heavy compensation for denial and delay in public interest information.

He also calls out the Manipur Information Commission for failing to perform its constitutional mandate: “The Commission must not protect public authorities who are trying to conceal public information. Otherwise, the RTI Act becomes meaningless.”
A Larger Crisis of Governance
The ethnic conflict has displaced tens of thousands in Manipur. Wahengbam Joykumar argues that this is not merely a bureaucratic lapse but a humanitarian failure. Without transparent information on how relief is being distributed, public trust in governance erodes.
The documents also expose the shifting of responsibility between the CM’s Secretariat and Home Department, with replies either referring to Deputy Commissioners or missing altogether indicating a lack of coordination, urgency, and compassion in addressing a national crisis.
Final Plea
In his concluding remark to the Commission, Wahengbam Joykumar writes: “I am in need of the required information urgently so that we can help those helpless people.” The ball is now in the Manipur Information Commission’s court. Whether it will uphold the spirit of the RTI Act or allow bureaucratic evasion to persist remains to be seen.

Information panel orders filing of plaint against RTI petitioner

The Hindu: Chennai: Thursday, 17 July 2025.

The Tamil Nadu Information Commission has directed the Kanniyakumari district administration to file a complaint against a petitioner, who used abusive language targetting the Public Information Officer (PIOs).
State Information Commissioner R. Priyakumar expressed concern over the behaviour of S. Sudalaimuthupillai of Kanniyakumari, the petitioner who sought an information under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
Instead of making good use of the noble Act, some petitioners were misusing the rights and privileges by using harsh and abusive language, which often caused mental agony to the public authorities, restraining them from discharging their duties, he said.
Condemning the objectionable words used by the petitioner against the PIO and his family members, Mr. Priyakumar asked the PA (General) to Collector to lodge a complaint with the police and submit the action taken report to the commission within a month.

Punjab chief info commissioner slams Jalandhar municipal body for lapses

Times of India: Chandigarh: Thursday, 17 July 2025.
Citing administrative negligence, the Punjab chief information commissioner has criticised the Jalandhar municipal corporation (MC) for failure to provide information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in a timely and transparent manner.

The commissioner warned that continued non-compliance could lead to disciplinary action against senior officials. The observations were made by chief information commissioner Inderpal Singh during the hearing of an appeal filed by a resident of Hoshiarpur, who sought information from the MC on March 21. On getting no response, the appellant approached the commission on May 27.
In the first hearing on June 19, the complainant sought stringent action against the respondent for failing to comply with the RTI Act. No one appeared on behalf of the MC in that particular hearing. However, Rakesh Kumar, officer on special duty (OSD) to the Jalandhar MC commissioner, was present in an unrelated matter and was asked to confirm the names of officials responsible for handling the RTI request. He said Suresh Kumar Sharma was serving as additional commissioner and Rajesh Khokhar as assistant commissioner.
The commission, taking note of the absence of the officers, warned that if they failed to appear on the next date, their presence would be secured through bailable warrants, and disciplinary action could also be recommended to the competent authority.
In the last hearing, Khokhar appeared and submitted an affidavit stating that the RTI application did not relate to his department. He clarified no officer named Suresh Kumar Sharma was holding the post of additional commissioner at the relevant time and identified Rakesh Kumar, who was transferred on June 30, as the officer in charge when the RTI application was filed.
The commission then expressed dissatisfaction with Jalandhar Smart City Limited's reply. The response, sent via email, was unsigned and lacked identification of the public information officer (PIO) responsible. Although it claimed that information for Points 1 and 2 was available online, the commission found the links inactive or inaccessible. This, it observed, amounted to a violation of Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, which mandated that if information sought pertained to another public authority, the original PIO must transfer the application to the body concerned.
The commission criticised the unprepared appearance of Khokhar, noting that he neither provided a satisfactory response nor consulted his colleagues before attending the hearing. The commission called it a wasteful burden on the exchequer that such a senior officer was deputed without being properly briefed.
The chief information commissioner then directed the MC commissioner to identify all officers, PIOs, and APIOs responsible for each point raised in the application. They were instructed to submit the complete record of the RTI request along with related correspondence and to furnish details of all RTI applications received in the last six months.
The commission also ordered that all officials concerned, including Khokhar, must be present at the next hearing scheduled for Aug 6. In addition, the PIO of Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company has been impleaded as a necessary party in the case.

Air tragedies rose 14% in India with 320 casualties, reveals RTI; aviation security body battles 38% staff shortage

Financial Express: Delhi: Wednesday, 16 July 2025.
The report also highlighted that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s central agency for aviation security, is grappling with a chronic staffing crisis.

Amid growing concerns over air safety, an RTI query has revealed that in the last five years, India had 53 air accidents, including Air India crash, resulting in over 320 fatalities and 180 serious injuries. It is an increase of 14.29 per cent compared to the previous five-year period, according to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Bhaskar English.
The report also highlighted that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s central agency for aviation security, is grappling with a chronic staffing crisis. The query also revealed that more than 30 per cent of BCAS positions have remained unfilled for four consecutive years, raising serious concerns over India’s aviation safety framework.
As of 30 June 2025, BCAS had a sanctioned strength of 598 personnel, but 227 posts remained vacant, with only 371 positions filled. This means that nearly 38 per cent of the workforce is missing at a time when India’s aviation sector is growing rapidly.
The staffing shortage has worsened over the past six months, with the number of vacancies rising despite a small increase in sanctioned posts.
As a result, routine inspections, emergency preparedness, surprise checks, and inter-agency coordination are all under strain, placing immense pressure on existing staff.
The RTI data also highlights repeated accident hotspots. These include Kedarnath, Mumbai, Baramati, and other recurring locations such as Guna, Rewa, and Gondia associated with private aircraft operations or flight training schools, where pilot error and weak oversight appear to be contributing factors.
Financial Loss
According to Bhaskar’s analysis, the estimated financial loss from air accidents over the past five years exceeds Rs 4,000 crore. This includes the destruction of property, aircraft, and related infrastructure. Around 45 training aircraft, such as the Cessna 172 and Pipistrel, each costing Rs 6-8 crore, were lost, resulting in losses exceeding Rs 231 crore.
In addition to this, five helicopters valued between Rs 8-15 crore each were also destroyed, adding another Rs 40-75 crore to the toll. These figures exclude compensation payouts, legal costs, and infrastructure damage.

ફ્લાઇટમાં એન્જિન બંધ થવાના ચોંકાવનારા આંકડા: RTI રિપોર્ટમાં ખુલાસો… જાન્યુઆરી 2024થી 31 મે 2025 સુધી 11 MAYDAY કૉલ નોંધાયા

મુંબઈ સમાચાર: નવી દિલ્હી: Wednesday, 16 July 2025.

એર ઈન્ડિયાની ફ્લાઈટ 12 જૂનના રોજ અમદાવાદથી લંડન જતી વખતે દુર્ઘટનાગ્રસ્ત થઈ હતી. આ પ્લેન ક્રેશ થવા પાછળનું કારણ જાણવા માટે તપાસ એજન્સી કામ કરી હતી જેનો રિપોર્ટ 12 જુલાઈના રોજ જાહેર કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો. આ પ્લેનના એન્જિનમાં ઈંધણ નહીં પહોંચવાને કારણે ફ્લાઈટ દુર્ઘટનાગ્રસ્ત થઈ હોવાનું તારણ મળી આવ્યું હતું. ઉલ્લેખનીય છે કે આ સ્વીચ બંધ થઈ કેમ તે એક મોટું રહસ્ય છે. પરંતુ આવી ઘટના પહેલી વખત નથી બની કે કોઈ પ્લેનનું એન્જિન બંધ થઈ ગયું હોય. અમદાવાદમાં એર ઈન્ડિયાના પ્લેન ક્રેશના તપાસ રિપોર્ટના અહેવાલ વચ્ચે હવે એક આરટીઆઈ રિપોર્ટ ચોંકાવનારો મળ્યો છે, જેમાં પાંચ વર્ષમાં 65 એન્જિન બંધ થયા હતા. જાણીએ વિગતવાર રિપોર્ટ.
દુર્ઘટનાનો પ્રાથમિક રિપોર્ટ
વિમાન દુર્ઘટના તપાસ બ્યુરો (AAIB)ના 15 પાનાના પ્રારંભિક રિપોર્ટમાં જણાવાયું છે કે એર ઈન્ડિયાનું બોઇંગ 787-8 ડ્રીમલાઇનર ઇંધણના કટઓફને કારણે ક્રેશ થયું. ઉડાન ભર્યા બાદ પાઇલટમાં મૂંઝવણ સર્જાઈ, અને ઇંધણ પુરવઠો ખોરવાયો, જે ફરીથી ચાલુ કરવામાં આવ્યો. જોકે, આ સમસ્યા નિયંત્રણ બહાર જતાં દુર્ઘટના સર્જાઈ. જોકે, નિષ્ણાતોનું કહેવું છે કે આવી ગંભીર ખામીઓ પાઇલટ માટે નિયંત્રિત કરવી મુશ્કેલ હોય છે.
વિમાનના એન્જિનની સમસ્યા
નાગરિક ઉડ્ડયન મહાનિદેશાલય (DGCA)ના RTI હેઠળના આંકડા દર્શાવે છે કે 2020થી 2025 સુધી ભારતમાં 65 ઇન-ફ્લાઇટ એન્જિન નિષ્ફળતાની ઘટનાઓ નોંધાઈ. આ તમામ વિમાનો બાકીના એન્જિનની મદદથી સુરક્ષિત ઉતરાણ કરી શક્યા. ફેડરેશન ઑફ ઇન્ડિયન પાઇલટ્સના પ્રમુખ કેપ્ટન સી.એસ. રંધવાએ જણાવ્યું કે એન્જિન ફિલ્ટર બંધ થવું, પાણીની ભેળસેળ અથવા એન્જિનમાં બાહ્ય વસ્તુઓ ફસાવીએ એન્જિન બંધ થવાના મુખ્ય કારણો છે.
MAYDAY કૉલની વિગતો
RTI ડેટા અનુસાર 1 જાન્યુઆરી 2024થી 31 મે 2025 સુધી 11 MAYDAY કૉલ નોંધાયા, જેમાં ટેકનિકલ ખામીઓને કારણે કટોકટી લેન્ડિંગની માંગણી કરાઈ. આમાંથી ચાર ફ્લાઇટ હૈદરાબાદમાં ઉતરાણ કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. એરલાઇન પાઇલટ્સ એસોસિએશનનું કહેવું છે કે MAYDAY કૉલ અને એન્જિન શટડાઉન વૈશ્વિકસ્તરે અસાધારણ નથી, પરંતુ તે ગંભીર હોઈ શકે છે.