Half of Maharashtra’s notified forests await legal protection : RTI

 Hindustan Times: Mumbai: Monday, 10 November 2025.
Data obtained through Right to Information (RTI) application reveals that between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2025, the state notified 1,21,198 hectares of forest as the preliminary step toward declaring a reserved forest, of which only 65,611 hectares have been protected legally

Independent data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) shows
Maharashtra lost 22,400 hectares of tree cover between 2001
and 2024, resulting in 10.8 million tonnes of CO2 emission.
(Hindustan Times)

More than half of Maharashtra’s notified forest land is yet to receive full legal protection as reserved forests, exposing serious lapses in the state’s forest conservation system, even as satellite data confirms continued tree loss, according to official records.
Data obtained through an Right to Information (RTI) application filed with the office of the principal chief conservator of forests (HoFF) reveals that between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2025, the state notified 1,21,198 hectares of forest under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act (IFA), 1927 the preliminary step toward declaring a reserved forest.
However, only 65,611 hectares have been finally declared under Section 20 of the Act, which grants full legal protection, leaving 46% of the notified land in procedural limbo.
The implementation gap varies widely across forest circles. Dhule, in northwestern Maharashtra, has not declared a single hectare since 2020. Pune notified only 18 hectares in 2024–25 and none in the first half of 2025. Yavatmal and Amravati too show large backlogs, with only 253 and 26 hectares notified respectively.
Officials admit that the two-step process under the IFA from Section 4 notification (recording local claims) to Section 20 declaration (final protection) often stretches over years.
“The data reveals a governance failure,” said Jeetendra Ghadge of The Young Whistleblowers Foundation, who obtained the information through RTI. “On one hand, lakhs of hectares remain stuck between notification and final protection. On the other, satellite evidence shows continuous deforestation and forest fires. Maharashtra faces two alarming realities, bureaucratic delay and on-ground destruction,” he said.
Steady loss of forest cover
Independent data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) shows Maharashtra lost 22,400 hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2024, resulting in 10.8 million tonnes of CO2 emission. The state also lost 882 hectares of humid primary forest among the most biodiverse and irreplaceable ecosystems.
Forest fires are emerging as a major cause of destruction. Between 2001 and 2024, about 670 hectares of forest were lost to wildfires. In 2025 alone, Maharashtra recorded 1,358 fire alerts, mostly during the February–April dry season. Over the past four years, the state has logged more than 52,000 fire alerts.
“Maharashtra’s forests are not just carbon sinks but also natural defences against floods, heatwaves, and pollution,” said Rajesh Ruparel, an environmentalist. “Every year of delay in granting protection leaves these natural assets more vulnerable to degradation.”
Call for accountability and action
Environmentalists have urged the government to establish a dedicated monitoring system to track pending Section 4 and Section 20 notifications and to coordinate better with district revenue departments. Many also advocate strengthening Community Forest Rights (CFRs) under the Forest Rights Act to empower local communities in conservation efforts.
“The department seems completely disconnected from its primary duty of protecting forests,” said Stalin Dayanand, environmentalist and director of Vanashakti. “Several mangrove areas have already been handed over to the department, yet the notification process is still pending. This delay only shows how little intent there is to secure these ecosystems legally.”
Procedural bottlenecks
Virendra Tiwari, former principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) of Maharashtra, said delays often arise because some claims are found valid during verification. “There are hundreds of notifications across talukas. In some cases, claimants submit valid documents showing that the land was allotted to them, and these need to be verified through the revenue department’s enquiry process. That’s one reason for the delay,” he said, adding that while the process ideally takes around 10–11 months, in some cases, it has stretched to several years.
A senior forest official in the department, requesting anonymity, said the process is further delayed because it depends on the forest settlement officer (FSO), who is responsible for verifying and settling all rights on the land before notification.
“The FSO has to examine every claim, whether they claim it is their land or any other entitlement under the revenue department, and extinguish them where necessary. But in many places, there are no FSOs appointed at all, which adds to the backlog. We are trying to fast-track the process,” the official said.
Experts said that the loss of forest cover and delayed legal protection weaken Maharashtra’s ability to withstand climate shocks. Forests and mangroves in Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad act as flood buffers and carbon sinks, while the Western Ghats provide critical catchment protection.

Ministerial Diary Disclosure Boosts Transparency

Mirage News: Tasmania: Monday, 10 November 2025.
Tasmanians are invited to have their say on how ministerial diaries are disclosed, with the release of a discussion paper today.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the Ministerial Diaries and Routine Disclosures discussion paper forms part of the Tasmanian Government's ongoing commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability and public trust in government decision-making.
"Transparency and accountability are fundamental to good government, and we are committed to ensuring that our decision-making processes are open to public scrutiny," Premier Rockliff said.
"This Liberal Government is delivering for Tasmanians, and through initiatives like the Independent RTI Review and the RTI Uplift Project, we're building a stronger, more transparent public sector that earns and maintains the trust of Tasmanians."
The discussion paper outlines a series of proposed changes to enhance the framework for diary disclosure, including:
Premier Rockliff said the proposed reforms build on significant work already undertaken to strengthen Tasmania's Right to Information system.
"This includes the commissioning of the Independent Review of the Right to Information Act 2009, the implementation of the RTI Uplift Project, and our broader efforts to embed a culture of openness across the public sector," Premier Rockliff said.
"Ministerial diaries provide a valuable insight into how elected officials engage with stakeholders and make decisions that affect the Tasmanian community.
"Enhancing the transparency of these records is an important step in ensuring that government remains open, accountable, and responsive to the public.
"We are working together to move our state forward, and I encourage all Tasmanians to have their say and help shape an even more transparent and accountable government."
The Discussion Paper and details on how to make a submission are available at: www.dpac.tas.gov.au
Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in fullhere.

Zubeen Garg death case: Assam CIC Resigns after RTI queries linked to brother’s arrest

North East India24: Guwahati: Monday, 10 November 2025.
Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta resigns as Assam CIC after his brother’s arrest in the probe into the death of singer Zubeen Garg’s kin, citing moral responsibility.

Assam Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and former Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta who is the elder brother of Shyamkanu Mahanta, one of the accused arrested in connection with the Zubeen Garg death case, has resigned from his position as the state’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) on Thursday. The move, described as a “moral decision,” has intensified scrutiny on the high-profile case.
Mahanta submitted his resignation to Raj Bhavan. The resignation follows an influx of RTI applications questioning whether Mahanta’s office could influence the ongoing investigation.
According to police, Shyamkanu Mahanta was taken into custody earlier this week and is being questioned on allegations of abetment and conspiracy. Details remain confidential pending further interrogation. Sources indicate the arrest stems from potential personal and financial disputes linked to the deceased.
In his resignation letter, the outgoing CIC wrote, “To uphold the highest moral standards and the sanctity of the institution, I deem it appropriate to step down immediately.” Mahanta had served as CIC since 2023, following a 35-year police career.
Opposition parties have framed the resignation as a delayed response to public pressure. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi demanded a wider inquiry into possible communication between the brothers, suggesting the government acted only after intense scrutiny.
The broader case surrounding the death of Zubeen Garg’s brother has gripped Assam since early October. Police have arrested four individuals including Shyamkanu and are examining financial links involving stalled real estate projects. The investigation continues to expand, with additional suspects being questioned.
The CIC post now lies vacant at a time when the state is grappling with increased public demands for transparency under the RTI Act.
Investigators are currently verifying digital evidence, financial records, and witness statements. Further updates are expected as the probe develops.

RTI : Nine months on,inquiry into KEM patient’s demise half-done - Swapnil R. Mishra

Mumbai Mirror: Mumbai: Monday, 10 November 2025.

Tejaswini Patil

RTI reveals no progress in probe into the alleged medical negligence that killed a pregnant woman; NHRC warns Health Dept of coercive action over continued delay
An internal inquiry into a complaint filed by Kiran Narendra Patil at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital) remains incomplete, over nine months after it began, a Right to Information (RTI) response has revealed.
“My wife went into KEM Hospital for treatment and never came back. All I have received are letters saying the inquiry is ‘under process.’ How long does it take to find the truth?” questioned Patil.
His wife Tejaswini Patil, who was 24 weeks pregnant, was referred from a Panvel hospital to KEM in January for what the family described as a minor surgical procedure. Her husband alleges that post-operative negligence at KEM led to her death on January 25. He also accused KEM of overcharging for medicines and diagnostic tests.
According to documents accessed through the RTI, Sion Hospital confirmed that an inquiry committee was constituted under the hospital chief’s directive to examine Patil’s complaint. However, the process has yet to progress beyond the preliminary stage. Officials stated that the report is “still under review,” and no final findings have been submitted.
The RTI response further clarified that the hospital has not communicated with BMC, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), or the state health department regarding the case. When approached for comment, officials declined to elaborate, citing “ongoing proceedings” and confidentiality provisions under the RTI Act. The hospital also withheld certain documents under Section 8(1)(h), which allows denial of information that could “impede the process of investigation or apprehension.”
Despite limited disclosure, the hospital’s Public Information Officer confirmed that the complaint was formally received and that an inquiry committee is active. “We have advised the complainant to file a first appeal within 30 days if dissatisfied with the response. The appeal will be reviewed by Dr Vidya Mahale, Deputy Dean and designated Appellate Authority under the RTI Act, 2005,” said the officer.
“The RTI Act was created to ensure time-bound transparency and accountability,” said Advocate Sarjerao Patil, representing the complainant. “When inquiries drag on indefinitely, justice is delayed and often denied.”
This is not an isolated instance. Over the years, Sion Hospital, like several other civic-run facilities, has faced repeated complaints about staff conduct, administrative lapses, and delayed patient care. Multiple inquiries have been launched, but few have led to concrete outcomes or systemic reforms.
A senior civic health official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Most committees are composed of senior staff who already manage daily hospital operations. Without external oversight, these investigations often remain pending until someone from higher up intervenes.”Audit reports from previous years have consistently shown that complaints lodged against public hospitals under the BMC frequently face long procedural delays.
“Every administrative inquiry must be time-bound ideally concluded within 90 days,” said Advocate Rajesh Chavan, health activist and former member of the BMC’s health committee. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also expressed displeasure over the Health Department’s failure to submit a report on an alleged case of medical negligence at KEM Hospital, which resulted in the death of 32-year-old Tejaswini Patil earlier this year.
Despite multiple reminders since August, the department has not filed its findings, prompting the NHRC to issue a final deadline of December 19 and warn of coercive action under the Protection of Human Rights Act if the report remains pending. An NHRC official confirmed that the Commission is “deeply concerned about the recurring pattern of bureaucratic indifference” in medical negligence cases from Maharashtra.

Bar Council to seek info on selection criteria for senior advocates via RTI : Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune India: Chandigarh: Sunday, 9^th November 2025.
The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana said that it was a matter of concern that the information sought regarding the procedure adopted for the selection and designation of senior advocates had not been provided by the High Court till date.

This issue was raised in the resolution passed during a meeting of the council held on October 31 at the office of the Council at Law Bhawan, Sector 37-A, Chandigarh.
The body’s additional secretary has been directed to apply for necessary information under the RTI Act, besides sending reminders to the HC to supply requisite information.
The resolution said that the Courts and the Bar were two hands of the same institution that served the general public. “Our request is not adversarial; it is an invitation to stand on the same page of the record. Where reasons are shared, trust grows, where data is open, doubt recedes,” it reads.
It says that since there is a general discontentment among the legal fraternity, in order to bring the matter to a logical conclusion, the Bar Council has decided to proceed further and seek the information from the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as collect from its own records, and from data maintained or available from other sources, if required.
As the complete record is presently not available, it was unanimously resolved that, for the purpose of reasoned deliberation, the matter be adjourned, it said.
The Council also observed that some apparently eligible advocates appeared to have been left out, while others had been considered and appointed. “Now, it is time to let facts lead and opinions follow,” it said. After data is collected, the same shall be placed before the House for review.
The Council also resolved to highlight the issue among all Bar Associations across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh for further discussion,to apprise it about the ability, standing, special knowledge and experience of such advocates.
“If need be, we will carry this conversation across the Bars of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, respectfully, rigorously, and without rhetoric,” it added.

Fiduciary Bar on Minutes and Voting Record Disclosure: IBBI Declines RTI Appeal seeking CoC Voting Results - By - Sandhra Suresh

Taxscan: National: Sunday, 9^th November 2025.
The Appellate Authority underscored that no larger public interest had been demonstrated to override this exemption. Also, it was observed that the RP is only obligated to share the minutes of the CoC meeting with its members.

In a recent ruling under the Right to Information Act, the Insolvencyand Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has dismissed an appeal seeking disclosure of Committee of Creditors’ (CoC) voting results in the CIRP of a company, reiterating that such records are held in a fiduciary capacity and are exempt from disclosure under Section 8(d) of the RTI Act.
The Appellant had filed an RTI application requesting details of the voting outcomes of the CoC in the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of Three C Projects Pvt. Ltd.
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of IBBI responded that the requested information was not available with the Board. Contending that IBBI, being the monitoring authority for insolvency processes, was duty-bound to possess and provide such information, the Appellant approached the Appellate Authority challenging the denial.
The appeal was registered on 13 September 2025 and examined by the Appellate Authority, which reviewed the RTI application, the CPIO’s reply, and the arguments raised by the Appellant.
The Appellant argued that the IBBI, as the regulator overseeing insolvency professionals and monitoring resolution proceedings, must have access to the CoC’s decisions, including voting outcomes. Hence, the refusal to disclose the same amounted to an unjustified denial under the RTI Act.
It was further contended that such information falls within the meaning of “information” as defined in Section 2(f) of the Act and should be made available in the public domain for transparency in CIRP outcomes.
The Respondent, on the other hand, maintained that the IBBI neither holds nor controls such information and that CoC voting records form part of the minutes maintained by the Resolution Professional (RP).
These minutes, being shared only among CoC members as per Regulations 24 and 25 of the CIRP Regulations, 2016, are protected by a fiduciary relationship and exempt from disclosure under Section 8(d) of the RTI Act.
After examining the material on record, the Appellate Authority held that the right to information under Sections 2(f) and 2(j) extends only to information “held by or under the control of” a public authority.
Since the IBBI does not maintain CoC voting details, it cannot be compelled to furnish information not in its possession. Further, the Authority observed that even if such information were available, disclosure of CoC minutes and voting records would be barred under Section 8(d) of the RTI Act, as they are held in a fiduciary capacity by the RP.
Noting that the Appellant failed to establish any overriding public interest warranting disclosure, Kulwant Singh of the Appellate Authority dismissed the appeal, affirming that confidentiality in CoC proceedings forms a crucial element of the insolvency resolution framework.

Black stone quarries in Odisha's Jajpur: HC issues notice to OIC on RTI activist’s plea.

New Indian Express: Cuttak: Saturday, November 08, 2025.

RTI activist Sarbeswar Behura approached the Orissa High Court challenging an order of the Odisha Information Commission (OIC) in connection with his long-pending appeal related to black stone quarries.

Right to Information activist Sarbeswar Behura has approached the Orissa High Court challenging an order of the Odisha Information Commission (OIC) in connection with his long-pending appeal related to black stone quarries in Dharmasala tehsil of Jajpur district.

After hearing the matter on October 30, Justice V Narasingh issued notices to the commission, public information officer (PIO), Dharmasala tehsil and the first appellate authority-cum-tehsildar of Dharmasala, directing them to file their responses by December 8.

“Serve notice on the counsel for the commission and the state counsel to enable them to obtain instructions in the matter. List this case on December 8, 2025,” the order stated.

According to the petition, Behura had filed an RTI application on September 1, 2021 before the PIO of Dharmasala tehsil, seeking details of black stone quarries operating in the region. After receiving no response within the stipulated 30 days, he filed a first appeal before Dharmasala tehsildar on October 27 the same year but that too went unanswered. Subsequently, he filed a second appeal under section 19(3) of the RTI Act before the OIC, which was registered as second appeal case No. 4000/2021.

The matter was listed for hearing after nearly four years on August 5, 2025 before the chief information commissioner. During the hearing, Behura submitted that the PIO had neither furnished the information sought nor communicated any reason for the denial. However, the commission, in its order dated August 5, 2025, disposed of the appeal without imposing any penalty or initiating disciplinary proceedings against the erring PIO, as mandated under the RTI Act in cases of non-response, the petition said.

The commission, in its place directed the PIO to file an affidavit stating non-availability of the information. The order also recorded the PIO’s submission that the information might now be available with the deputy director of mines, and that the applicant could obtain certified copies from that office upon payment of requisite fees.

Aggrieved by the OIC’s order, Behura filed the petition before the Orissa HC on August 25. In the petition, Behura contended that the PIO’s claim was misleading since the state government’s decision to transfer management of minor minerals to the directorate of mines came only in April 2023, nearly two years after his RTI application.

He alleged that the PIO had suppressed information that was available in 2021 and that the commission failed to consider his submissions made during the hearing.

Priority, not officers decide appointments for Chandigarh Administrator’s Janta Darbar: RTI.

Indian Express: Chandigadh: Saturday, November 08, 2025.

The RTI had also sought details of minutes of all such public grievance meetings held so far under the present administrator along with a list of persons who were the attendees.

Appointments for Janta Darbar held by the Chandigarh Administrator are not decided by officers and are according to the priority of the grievance, a RTI reply stated. Every Wednesday, the Janta Darbar is held at the UT Secretariat to resolve public grievances. The RTI filed by R K Garg sought details of the process of Janta Darbar chaired by Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. The RTI had also sought details of minutes of all such public grievance meetings held so far under the present administrator along with a list of persons who were the attendees.

He also asked about the procedure adopted to select, data of requests received at designated email address, and the list of persons shortlisted. “It is informed that minutes are not prepared. Appointments are not decided by the officers in connection with the Janta Darbar conducted by the Chandigarh Administrator. However, till date, a total of eight Janta Darbars have been held, during which the representations/grievances personally submitted by individuals to the Administrator are considered and decided. The appointment to the applicant may be given as per the priority of their grievance,” the reply said. Following the reply, Garg said that the response suggests that there is no record maintained, which means accountability of the admin documents,” he underscored, hoping that the UT will implement measures to make it a “public-oriented exercise”. istration cannot be fixed.

“This situation makes it a futile and self-satisfying exercise which is no use to the public and ultimately people will lose interest.” “In every situation there is scope for improvement and comparison. We suggest making it transparent and accountable by responding to complainants in writing like earlier administration forums, which ran successfully for many years from 2008 to 2014,” he added. Garg said that during those years every resident would get all details in RTI and IT dept had full records and accountability. “In fact, many residents claimed benefits based on official

RTI applicants in Gujarat face 12-query per year ceiling, activists protest.

Times of India: Saturday, November 8, 2025.

On Aug 1, Morbi resident Chirag Mohan Chavda's RTI application seeking information about the implementation of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram was rejected by the Morbi district panchayat's health branch, citing the 12 RTI per year ‘limit' on applications. The reply quoted a March 12 directive of the Gujarat State Information Commission (GSIC). 

The letter from the district health officer read, "As per the order, only 12 RTI applications can be filed in a calendar year and each may contain up to five queries." Ahmedabad-based RTI activist Pankti Jog said she has documented at least 30 similar cases. "Even though the commission says these orders are case-specific, many public information officers are misinterpreting them," Jog told TOI. "They are now asking every applicant to file an undertaking on oath. This practice has been continuing for nearly one and a half years." Chavda, who works for the welfare of silicosis patients, said that the decision came as a surprise. "There is no provision to reject an RTI application on such grounds," he told TOI.

The experience of Chavda mirrors the case of autorickshaw driver Raju Odedara from Anand. He had filed an RTI application on Aug 22 with the district education officer asking why a dilapidated school building — declared dangerous — was still in use. But on Oct 8, his application was voided on the grounds that he had failed to provide an undertaking promising that he would not file more than 12 applications in a year. While there is no overarching law on limits, in some cases, the GSIC has justified the restrictions by citing cases of ‘excessive' RTI use.

In Surendranagar's Wadhwan, Nanji Jitia, a Below the Poverty Line cardholder, was told in Jan that he could not file more than 12 RTI applications in a calendar year. Between 2016 and 2025, Jitia filed 448 RTI applications, many of which sought information already available on govt websites. The commission, led by chief information commissioner Subhash Soni, observed that Jitia's repeated filings were consuming "disproportionate public resources". The order restricted him to 12 applications per year, each covering a maximum of two subjects and five specific questions.

It added, "The RTI Act is meant to promote transparency, not to overwhelm the system," and invoked Supreme Court rulings that warned against the misuse of the law to harass public servants. In Surat, a more extensive case unfolded involving a Brahmbhatt family, which collectively filed 2,741 RTI applications and appeals between 2009 and 2025. Mahendrasinh Amrutlal Brahmbhatt, Jaswantsinh Amrutlal Brahmbhatt, and Harsh Dineshkumar Brahmbhatt were found to have repeatedly sought overlapping information from various departments, often leading to administrative delays. Records show that Mahendra filed nine appeals in 2023-24, Jaswant filed five in 2024, and Harsh filed seven in 2023.

Suvendu files RTI with KMC over ‘fake’ birth certs.

Times of India: Rohit Khanna: Kolkata: Thursday, November 07, 2025.

The Bengal BJP, which earlier flagged the misuse of birth certificates to the Election Commission of India, on Thursday filed an RTI with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation seeking details of the birth certificates issued in the past 1 month.

 The BJP already wrote to the ECI, raising concerns about birth certificates issued after June 24, 2025. Leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who filed the RTI, asked for the number of birth certificates filed in the past 30 days. He also inquired about the number of birth certificates issued during the same period last year. Additionally, he questioned the number of birth certificates issued against instant applications for persons born before 2007. Earlier, the BJP wrote to the ECI and raised concerns over a "sudden surge" in delayed registrations of birth across the state.

It alleged that backdated birth certificates were being issued across Bengal and people were obtaining "duplicate" certificates. "There is no mechanism under the Representation of People's Act for verifying such certificates, which has led to large-scale misuse," said the BJP in its submission to the ECI this week. It also suggested that birth certificates issued after June 24, 2025, should be verified on a case-by-case basis by the Earlier last week, Kolkata Municipality Mayor Firhad Hakim said that more people might have tried to get births registered after the SIR was announced. However, the municipality will provide certificates to those who have genuine documents.

Kolkata Municipality's Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh on Thursday termed the move as a politically motivated one. "The Municipal Commissioner and the Chief Municipal Health Officer will reply to the RTI. Whether or not there has been any unusual spike in the birth and death registration can be seen from that. However, the Municipality maintains a transparent system of registration of births and deaths. Even a person who is not a domicile of Bengal can get births registered if the baby is born in the state."

INTERVIEW | ‘Communalism is rising in Kerala... but resistance is also building’: Aruna Roy.

The New Indian Express: Varsha Somraj: Thiruvananathapuram: November 07, 2025.

In a chat with TNIE, Aruna Roy says, feminist thought and presence are key to bring to politics a sense of equality and justice.

Kerala has, according to social activist Aruna Roy, been witnessing the rise of communalism, and the resistance to it. In a chat with TNIE, the recipient of the second K R Gouri Amma Award, who was named one of BBC’s 100 Women of the Year in 2024, says feminist thought and presence are key to bring to politics a sense of equality and justice.

Excerpts:

You received the award named after K R Gouri Amma, who was perennially in the running for chief minister...

Even the most progressive among us have to learn that feminist thought and feminist presence must be more sharply etched into the politics of every political party and of the world -- to bring to politics a sense of equality and justice, with an overriding humane compassion. The feminists fought for change. They fought for equality. You have to sit down and dialogue, you have to deal with it because it can’t immediately become polarised.

You were one of the architects of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Today, many RTI applications are turned down citing confidentiality...

Officials cannot say ‘confidential’ and be done with it. They must cite the exact letter and legislative clause and section under which the information confidential? The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, makes it even harder because it legitimises such denials.

What is your perspective on the current state of the federal structure, and the political and cultural tensions across the country?

The fight to protect the federal structure must be fought politically. And, I think all states must align and force the central government to give what it has to give.

The public space for protest is shrinking...

It is present in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, the Northeast. Begin the battle away from Delhi. Why should they all look to Delhi? Delhi is not India. Delhi is just a small state with a lot of government buildings. Let’s not view at India as Delhi, or Delhi as India. That’s a mistake we are making. Just because something happens in Delhi, it doesn’t become national.

You’ve been opposing the imposition of Hindi in the country...

Hindi is being forced upon us. I’m talking about the cultural position. It’s not the majority language. The states that are said to be Hindi speaking, Bihar, for instance, have many dialects. It’s got Bhojpuri, it’s got Maithili, and more. So, what is this notion of a Hindi-speaking state?

We must bust all these myths and pictures put in front of us. Many people don’t really understand either Hindi or English. You have to accept that India is not unicoded. It’s a multicoded country. You can’t wish away languages and cultures. You can’t wish away Muslims, Sikhs, Christians. And this country was not made to be a Hindu state. The dream was to create a secular state, with every community having the right to wish.

Having visited Kerala multiple times, what changes have you observed over the years?

The whole country has changed, and Kerala is no exception. Yet, Kerala still holds on to some of its core principles. Often, we notice the obvious signs first -- like the rise of communalism. There have been attempts to put pressure on both Kerala and Tamil Nadu in different ways, but I also see resistance building.

Assam CIC quits over RTI queries tied to brother in Zubeen Garg case.

The Newsmill: Guwahati: Thursday, November 07, 2025.

Assam chief information commissioner and former director general of police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta resigned from his post on November 6, citing moral grounds. His resignation follows RTI applications filed concerning the activities of his brother, Shyamkanu Mahanta, who has been arrested in connection with the death of singer Zubeen Garg.

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta submitted his resignation to the governor at Raj Bhawan. He was appointed to the post of chief information commissioner (CIC) in 2023 after retiring as Assam’s DGP earlier that year. The CIC is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in the state. In a statement to the media, Mahanta said he had received a letter on November 4 informing him of a forthcoming RTI application linked to government assistance received by his brother. “I thought that I needed to uphold the highest dignity of the office and democratic tradition, and not allow any aspersions to be cast on my office. So on moral grounds, I decided to resign,” he said.

Shyamkanu is currently lodged at the district jail in Baksa. He and the other accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including criminal conspiracy, murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and causing death by negligence.

6% CCTVs meant to catch traffic violators not working: RTI data.

Times of India: Chandigadh: Thursday, November 7, 2025.

As many as 131 CCTV cameras — about 6% of the 2,085 installed for traffic surveillance — were non-functional in July, according to information obtained from Chandigarh Police under the RTI Act. This left 1,954 cameras operational, the lowest monthly figure recorded so far. Traffic police data shows that 1,994 cameras were working in Feb 2025, while 1,988 were functional in the subsequent two months. 

The number dropped to 1,969 in May, rose to 1,985 in June and dipped again in July. Officials from the traffic wing said maintenance of cameras is a continuous process and efforts are under way to repair and restore the non-functional units at the earliest. RTI data also revealed that 1,02,222 challans were issued between July 1 and Aug 20. Of these, 84,204 were generated through CCTV cameras under the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), while 18,018 were issued manually on the spot. In July alone, 71,655 challans were issued — 54,857 through CCTV and 16,798 manually. In the first 20 days of Aug, 29,347 challans were issued via CCTV and 1,220 manually.

On Aug 4, DGP Sagar Preet Hooda directed the traffic wing to issue manual challans only for visible, serious violations, stressing that enforcement should not turn into intimidation. Officers were told to avoid unnecessary confrontations and stop vehicles only for clear violations. Following these instructions, manual challans dropped sharply — from about 500 a day to an average of 45. Social activist RK Garg said, "More than 6% of CCTVs not working in the city is a serious issue. These cameras are not only useful for generating challans and streamlining traffic but also for investigating hit-and-run cases and detecting criminals. The administration must ensure all cameras are functional."

91 municipal schools in city remain shut, reveals RTI

Times of India: Ahmedabad: Thursday, 6^th November 2025.

As many as 91 schools run by the Ahmedabad Municipal School Board across different parts of the city remain closed, according to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The schools were shut down over the years due to mergers, allocation of premises for govt offices, or dilapidated buildings and have not been reopened.
According to data shared by the Ahmedabad Municipal School Board, the Main Sindhi School in Sardarnagar was closed in 2011 and merged with the Sardarnagar English School, while a Vyayam Shala began operating from the old premises. Later, two rooms of the same building were allocated to the election commission.
Similarly, the Asarwa Marathi School has remained closed since 2011 due to its unsafe condition. Several other schools across the city have met similar fates for various administrative or infrastructural reasons.
Advocate Atik Sayyed, a resident of Jamalpur who sought the information under the RTI Act, said, "This is violation of the Right to Education Act, depriving poor and middle-class children of their right to quality education."
Sayyed added that the closure of these schools has left thousands of children from slum and backward areas without access to nearby govt schools. "The buildings of these 91 schools are public property. Due to prolonged closure, they are deteriorating, resulting in the wastage public funds. While the school board claims to be opening new schools, the condition of so many closed schools points to administrative failure," he said.
He further demanded that the AMC announce an action plan within 90 days to reopen all 91 schools. "It must also be investigated why classrooms of these closed schools are being used for other purposes instead of education," he added.

T.N. Information Commission issues notice to DEO of private schools in Kallakurichi district for failing to furnish information to RTI applicant

 The Hindu: Kallakurichi: Thursday, 6^th November 2025.

The Tamil Nadu Information Commission has issued show cause notice to the then Public Information Officer/District Educational Officer of Kallakurichi district seeking an explanation as to why penalty of ₹25,000 should not be levied on the official for failing to provide information to an RTI Act applicant within the stipulated period.
After conducting enquiries with the applicant, S. Kalyanasundaram, through video conferencing on Wednesday, the Commission headed by State Information Commissioner V.P.R. Elamparithi ordered issue of notice to the PIO/DEO J. Dorairaj and directed him to appear in person on November 19 and submit his written explanation.
According to sources, the petitioner had filed an application on June 9, 2023 under Section 6 (1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 seeking details of tuition fees fixed (class wise) by the government for private schools; whether the details of government-fixed fees have been displayed in front of each private school; action taken against schools that had failed to do so, and list of schools that had obtained approval for hostels.
Since the PIO failed to furnish the requested information, the petitioner filed a first appeal under Section 19 (1) on July 17, 2023 before the First Appellate Authority. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a complaint before the Commission.
The Superintendent of the District Education Office (Private Schools) who appeared on behalf of the Chief Education Officer on Wednesday informed that letters were issued to all private school principals and correspondents on June 20 and July 28, 2023 directing them to send the required information to the petitioner.
However, the petitioner stated he had received no information so far and requested that penalties be imposed on the PIO.
The Commission directed the then PIO/DEO to appear before it in person on November 19 and submit his written explanation. The Commission also directed the CEO to convene a meeting with present and former PIOs (private schools) and all private school heads to conduct an inquiry regarding the petitioner’s RTI application and submit his report to the Commission on November 19.
The Commission also directed the PIO to furnish complete information sought by the petitioner along with copies of supporting documents. The information should be furnished free of cost within two weeks of receipt of this order, with proof of dispatch (postal tracking copy) and acknowledgement of receipt from the petitioner and should be submitted to the Commission on November 19.

Tamil Nadu issues detailed guidelines to improve land records managemen

PropNews Time: Wednesday, November 05, 2025.

Synopsis The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms Department has issued fresh guidelines to all district collectorates and revenue offices to strengthen the maintenance and classification of land records. The directive aims to ensure better record management, transparency, and quicker responses to Right to Information (RTI) queries. It comes after the State Information Commission raised concerns about missing or untraceable files. The circular specifies the types of landrelated records to be maintained, classification methods, safe storage practices, and a colour-coded filing system to clearly track pending and closed cases.

Synopsis The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms Department has issued fresh guidelines to all district collectorates and revenue offices to strengthen the maintenance and classification of land records. The directive aims to ensure better record management, transparency, and quicker responses to Right to Information (RTI) queries. It comes after the State Information Commission raised concerns about missing or untraceable files. The circular specifies the types of landrelated records to be maintained, classification methods, safe storage practices, and a colour-coded filing system to clearly track pending and closed cases.

The department instructed that records related to patta transfers, land acquisition, ownership, reclassification, encroachment, leasing of government land, land surrender, and land tax schemes must be maintained properly at the district level. Copies of these documents should also be forwarded to the Land Reforms Department to ensure uniform monitoring and oversight

The new directive follows observations made by the State Information Commission, which noted several cases where RTI petitions were rejected because relevant documents were either unavailable or untraceable. The Commission had earlier warned that such lapses could lead to administrative action. The department clarified that when RTI applications are received by the Land Reforms Department, they are redirected to the respective district collectorates under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, making the district authorities responsible for processing and responding to such requests. 

The circular outlines that all land-related files should be systematically classified into four categories retention disposals, disposals, standing orders, and current documents. Files marked as "retention disposals" are to be preserved permanently, while "disposals" may be destroyed after ten years. Standing orders and current documents are to be updated regularly. To improve accessibility, the department has introduced a colour-coded system black ink for closed files and red ink for pending files along with proper serial numbering and document numbers for each record. This system is expected to make tracking and retrieval of files easier for both officials and citizens.

The new directive follows observations made by the State Information Commission, which noted several cases where RTI petitions were rejected because relevant documents were either unavailable or untraceable. The Commission had earlier warned that such lapses could lead to administrative action. The department clarified that when RTI applications are received by the Land Reforms Department, they are redirected to the respective district collectorates under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, making the district authorities responsible for processing and responding to such requests. The circular outlines that all land-related files should be systematically classified into four categories retention disposals, disposals, standing orders, and current documents. 

Files marked as "retention disposals" are to be preserved permanently, while "disposals" may be destroyed after ten years. Standing orders and current documents are to be updated regularly. To improve accessibility, the department has introduced a colour-coded system black ink for closed files and red ink for pending files along with proper serial numbering and document numbers for each record. This system is expected to make tracking and retrieval of files easier for both officials and citizens. integrating physical and digital records, aligning with national land record modernisation initiatives promoted by the central government.

TGSRTC doesn’t maintain records of accidents involving its buses: RTI response.

The Hindu: Syed Mohammed: Telangana: Tuesday, November 04, 2025.

Older data suggests that RTC buses were involved in over 2,500 road accidents

Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) collects safety cess of ₹1 per passenger. 

The latest road accident in which a lorry — reportedly driving on the wrong side of the road — crashing into a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus carrying several passengers that led to at least 19 deaths, has laid bare the concern of transparency and sharing data.

Data sought under the Right to Information Act (RTI) connected to the number of road accidents in which TGSRTC buses were involved elicited a strange response from the state road transport undertaking: “It is regretted to express our inability to provide information as sought in the application.”

The TGSRTC cited an order of the Supreme Court in the CBSE Vs Aditya Bandopadhyaya case in which the ruling, per the transport behemoth, was that “where the information sought is not a part of the record of a public authority and where such information is not required to be maintained under any law or the rules and regulations of public authority, the Act does not cast an obligation upon the public authority to collect or collate such non-available information and furnish it to the applicant. A public authority is not required to furnish information which require drawing of inferences and/or making of assumptions.”

“The reply is dated October 24, 2025. I had sought information on the number of accidents in which TGSRTC buses were involved. I had merely suggested a format in which yearly data be provided along with number of accidents, number of fatalities, injuries, among other aspects such as the fate of victims. If the other details were not available, upholding the spirit of the Act was important. Just the information about the number of accidents each year could have been supplied,” said applicant Kareem Ansari, who filed the plea.

Interestingly, in 2022, former RTC Board Director M. Nagesgwar Rao obtained similar details through RTI Act. The state-run corporation had said that from 2017-18 to 2020-21, its buses were involved in as many as 2,674road accidents . The response further stated that “total number of deaths of roads users/passengers/other vehicle users” stood at 1,230 during the same period. Of these, as many as 183 were of passengers, and 283 were pedestrians. Furthermore, around ₹150 crore was paid in compensation during that period.

With the TGSRTC then grappling with crushing losses on account of diesel price hikes, compounded with the aftermath of the COVID - 19 pandemic and the lockdown that forced buses to go off the roads found it difficult to pay compensation. An measure to offset this, the transport juggernaut introduced a safety cess of ₹1 per passenger since March 2022 so as to build a corpus to pay compensation.

According to an official TGSRTC document, the accident rate in 2020-21 was 0.6, and the funds paid as accident claims in the same year stood at ₹24.41 crore. The accident next year increased to 0.7. This necessitated the introduction of the safety cess.

Number of non-functional CCTV cameras negligible, no blind spot: DMRC says women safety survey has ‘misleading’ figures

Indian Express: Tuesday, November 04, 2025.

The spokesperson for the DMRC said that “misleading inferences” were drawn by the study, the findings of which were reported by The Indian Express.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has clarified that even when some CCTV cameras inside its trains are under maintenance, the covered area mostly does not have any blind spot, with other cameras working. The DMRC issued the clarification in response to a study based on data obtained under RTI Act that stated that 300-500 CCTV cameras inside Delhi Metro trains were found to be non-functional every year between 2020 and 2024.

“Even in the case of such CCTVs under maintenance, the area mostly remains free from any blind spot due to wide coverage available through adjacent CCTVs. This is due to efficacy of this robust mechanism that no major cases of any untowardly incident have been reported in all these years,” DMRC said.

The spokesperson for the DMRC said that “misleading inferences” were drawn by the study, the findings of which were reported by The Indian Express. “… it (300-500) is an annual figure — which means on any given day, the number of CCTVs under maintenance are just one or two from a pool of around 24,000 (11,000 on trains and 13,000 in metro stations), which are running smoothly every single day,” the spokesperson said, adding that the annual figures of non-functional cameras form only a negligible percentage on a given day.

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“The DMRC would like to strongly rebut such a misleading inference being made out of this extremely selective data implying that women’s safety is compromised in metro premises due to non-functionality of CCTVs,” the spokesperson added.

The data was shared by the DMRC in response to an RTI filed by Mishthi Khurana and Yashika Jain, principal investigators of the study. The report is based on an analysis of the RTI response, spot checks at stations, interviews of 10 staffers across metro stations, and a survey involving around 70 women in the age group of 18 to 30 who have used the Delhi Metro.

The women’s safety report, ‘Between Stations’, was launched on Saturday at the HAQ Summit 2025, titled ‘Her Right to Roam’, at Pragati Maidan’s Crafts Museum.

गजब खेल... जम्मू कश्मीर में नहीं मिला रहा RTI का जवाब, आवेदन वापस लेने के लिए मिल रहा 'स्कूटर का ऑफर' : राहुल महाजन

Navbharat Times: Srinagar: Monday, 3^rd November 2025.
कानून के छात्रों ने जब सूचना के अधिकार (RTI) आवेदन फाइल करने शुरू किए, तो उन्हें लगा कि यह सिर्फ उनके कोर्स का एक हिस्सा है। लेकिन जल्द ही उन्हें समझ आ गया कि सत्ता सवालों का जवाब कैसे देती है। कुछ को आधा-अधूरा जवाब मिला, कुछ को खामोशी।

आरटीआई कानून का उद्देश्य सरकार की पारदर्शिता और जवाबदेही सुनिश्चित करना है, लेकिन कश्मीर में हाल ही में सामने आए कुछ अनुभव यह दर्शाते हैं कि सवाल पूछना अब भी आसान नहीं है। पिछले हफ्ते श्रीनगर के गोगजी बाग स्थित इकबाल पार्क के पीछे बने सरकारी ऑडिटोरियम टैगोर हॉल में कानून के छात्रों ने अपने कोर्स वर्क के हिस्से के रूप में आरटीआई आवेदन दाखिल किए। शुरू में यह एक शैक्षणिक अभ्यास था, पर जल्द ही यह सत्ता और प्रशासन की प्रतिक्रिया को समझने का एक व्यावहारिक सबक बन गया।
आवेदन वापस लें स्कूटर मिलेगा:
दरअसल कश्मीर विश्वविद्यालय की छात्रा सबिका रसूल ने पुलवामा में अपने गांव की विकास बैठकों के बारे में जानकारी मांगी थी। सबिका ने 1 अगस्त को ग्रामीण विकास विभाग में आरटीआई दाखिल की थी। उन्होंने पूछा था कि ग्राम सभा की बैठकें कितनी बार हुईं और उनके बाद क्या विकास कार्य किए गए। जब वह खुद दफ्तर पहुंचीं, तो उन्हें एक डेस्क से दूसरे डेस्क तक भटकाया गया और बताया गया कि नामित अधिकारी का तबादला हो गया है। कुछ दिनों बाद उनके पिता को फिर फोन आया कि मामला आगे न बढ़ाएं। उन्हें कहा गया कि लड़की द्वारा ऐसे आवेदन दाखिल करना अच्छा नहीं लगता। बाद में उन्हें एक स्कूटर देने का प्रस्ताव भी मिला, यदि वह आवेदन वापस ले लें।
आरटीआई दाखिल करने के बाद होने लगी बैठकें:
अंततः 15 अक्टूबर को उन्हें उर्दू में 32 पन्नों का जवाब मिला जिसमें 11 बैठकों और हर घर जल जैसी योजनाओं का उल्लेख था। हालांकि सबिका को आंकड़ों की सटीकता पर भरोसा नहीं, पर एक सकारात्मक बदलाव हुआ। अब ग्राम सभा बैठकों की घोषणा मस्जिदों में की जाती है, जिससे ग्रामीणों को उनके बारे में पता चलने लगा है। इस मामले पर पुलवामा के तत्कालीन सहायक आयुक्त (विकास) डॉ. पीरज़ादा फ़रहत ने स्कूटर ऑफर के दावे को सफेद झूठ बताया। उन्होंने कहा कि विभाग का सारा डेटा सार्वजनिक डोमेन में उपलब्ध है।
सीखने के उद्देश्य से दायर की थी आरटीआई:
सबिका जैसी कई छात्राएं और छात्र किसी टकराव के इरादे से नहीं, बल्कि सीखने के उद्देश्य से आरटीआई दायर कर रहे थे। परंतु, लगभग हर विभाग में उन्हें देरी, टालमटोल या अनौपचारिक दबाव का सामना करना पड़ा। गांदरबल के इदरीस फ़ारूक ने एक स्टेडियम के नवीनीकरण को लेकर खर्च, ठेकेदारों के नाम और रात्रि मैचों की आय का ब्यौरा मांगा। उन्हें जवाब में सिर्फ 31,500 रुपये का खर्च बताया गया, बिना किसी विवरण के। जल्द ही उनके रिश्तेदारों को अधिकारियों ने संपर्क कर स्पष्टीकरण मांगा। उन्होंने बताया कि मुझे समझाना पड़ा कि यह कोई शिकायत नहीं, सिर्फ एक आरटीआई थी।
जुनैद को भी नहीं मिला जवाब:
वहीं उरी के जुनैद बुडू को पुस्तकालय विभाग से कोई जवाब नहीं मिला, लेकिन उनके सवाल के बाद कुछ ही हफ्तों में गांव का पुस्तकालय फिर से खुल गया और कर्मचारी हाज़िरी देने लगे। जुनैद ने बताया कि उन्होंने जवाब तो नहीं दिया, लेकिन असर जरूर हुआ। करगिल के गुलाम अब्बास ने सिंचाई विभाग से अपने गांव की रुकी नहर परियोजना के बारे में जानकारी मांगी, लेकिन विभाग की ओर से कोई जवाब नहीं मिला। इसके बजाय उनके पिता को कहा गया कि पुराने रिकॉर्ड नहीं हैं, इसलिए आवेदन वापस ले लें।
RTI आवेदनों में आई गिरावट:
मार्च 2025 में जम्मू-कश्मीर सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी विभाग ने दावा किया कि आरटीआई पोर्टल पूरी तरह कार्यरत है। विभाग के अनुसार, 15,800 से अधिक आवेदन दायर हुए, जिनमें से 11,631 का निपटारा हो चुका है। हालांकि, कॉमनवेल्थ ह्यूमन राइट्स इनिशिएटिव (CHRI) की 2024 की रिपोर्ट कुछ और तस्वीर दिखाती है। इस रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 2022 के बाद से आरटीआई आवेदनों में 31% की गिरावट आई है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, इसके कारणों में निगरानी की कमी, जवाबों में लंबी देरी, ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में सीमित डिजिटल पहुंच और हतोत्साहन की संस्कृति प्रमुख हैं।