NPP communications director files RTI request over Feed Ghana Programme details : By Abigail Teye

Asaase Radio: Ghana: Monday, 9^th March 2026.
The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Kwadwo Ahiagbah, has filed a Right to Information (RTI) request seeking details on the implementation of the government’s Feed Ghana Programme for the 2025 fiscal year.

In a letter dated 5 March 2026 and addressed to the Information Officer and Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ahiagbah invoked Ghana’s Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) to request detailed information on the programme’s funding, expenditure, beneficiaries and outcomes.
According to the NPP communications director, the request is aimed at promoting transparency and informing public discourse on the programme, which seeks to strengthen Ghana’s food security, create employment opportunities for young people and support the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“Since Ghana’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, the public deserves clarity on how resources allocated to major agricultural initiatives are utilised and the outcomes achieved,” Ahiagbah stated in the letter.
Budget and expenditure details
Among the information requested is the total budgetary allocation for the Feed Ghana Programme in 2025, including the sources of funding such as the Government of Ghana, internally generated funds and development partner support.
Ahiagbah is also seeking details on the total funds released for the programme within the year and the actual amount spent.
The request further asks for a breakdown of expenditure across key components of the programme, including input support such as seeds, fertilisers and agrochemicals, mechanisation services and equipment, irrigation development, livestock and poultry interventions, as well as extension services and farmer training.
Beneficiaries and geographic coverage
The RTI request also seeks data on the number of farmers who benefited from the programme in 2025.
Ahiagbah asked for a regional breakdown of the beneficiaries as well as the specific interventions received, including crop production, livestock support and irrigation initiatives.
In addition, the NPP official requested information on the programme’s geographic coverage, including the regions, districts and communities where the Feed Ghana Programme was implemented during the year.
Programme outcomes
Beyond financial and beneficiary details, the NPP communications director is seeking measurable outputs and outcomes from the programme.
These include indicators such as increases in acreage cultivated, crop yields, livestock production and other performance metrics used by the ministry to assess the programme’s impact.
Under the Right to Information Act, public institutions are required to respond to requests within the timelines stipulated by law.

RTI reveals over one lakh trees felled in Assam since 2016; experts raise ecological concerns

India Today NE: Assam: Monday, 9^th March 2026.
More than one lakh mature trees have been felled across Assam since May 2016 for various public and private development projects, according to information obtained through the Right to Information Act, raising concerns among environmental experts over the absence of ecological impact studies.

More than one lakh mature trees have been felled across Assam since May 2016 for various public and private development projects, according to information obtained through the Right to Information Act, raising concerns among environmental experts over the absence of ecological impact studies.
Data received from 15 forest divisions in response to queries sent to the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests revealed that 1,06,896 full-grown trees have been cut during the period. The queries were forwarded to 43 wildlife and territorial divisions across the state, though several divisions did not provide complete information.
Responding to the findings, Assam Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the trees were felled out of “dire necessity” for development works such as highway expansion, oil exploration and infrastructure projects.
He cited the four-laning of National Highway-17 between Guwahati and Goalpara and the construction of the Darrang Medical College and Hospital as examples where large numbers of trees had to be removed. Trees were also cut for crude exploration by companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India Limited, he said.
The minister maintained that the government has taken steps to compensate for the loss of green cover by planting saplings under initiatives such as the Amrit Briksha Andolan, under which one crore saplings were planted in a single day. According to the government, more than 3.5 crore saplings have been planted in the past two years, with most divisions reporting over 70 per cent survival after proper care.
The RTI data also showed that over 26,000 trees were felled in notified forest areas, while the remaining were cut in non-forest locations. Nearly 84,000 trees were removed for government projects such as roads, bridges, flyovers, factories and buildings, including medical colleges and police battalions, while more than 10,000 trees were cut for private works.
Environmental experts, however, warned that comparing the felling of mature trees with the planting of saplings is ecologically misleading. Narayan Sharma said a fully grown tree represents decades of ecological value that cannot be replaced quickly.
He added that plantations often take decades to deliver comparable ecosystem services, even if the saplings survive to maturity.
Experts also expressed concern over the absence of ecological impact assessments despite large-scale tree felling. Minakshi Bora said not conducting systematic studies to evaluate ecological impact is scientifically worrying.
Without such assessments, cumulative damage to local biodiversity, microclimate and ecosystem services may remain unnoticed until the effects become severe and difficult to reverse, she said.
Edited By: priyanka saharia

Amend RTI Act before passing ordinance

The Daily Star: Bangladesh: Monday, 9^th March 2026.
The Right to Information (RTI) Forum yesterday demanded the immediate formation of Information Commission and further amendments to the Right to Information Act, 2009, saying the recent amendment ordinance should not be passed in parliament in its current form.

“It is a world record that despite a legal obligation, the Information Commission remained unformed for one and a half years,” said Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman at a press conference in the capital’s TIB office.
He urged the government to form the commission without delay and appoint qualified, experienced and independent individuals capable of working beyond partisan influence.
The remarks came at a press conference titled “Immediate Formation of the Information Commission and Necessary Amendments to the RTI Act, 2009,” organised by the RTI Forum.
Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam, also convener of the RTI Forum, said civil society organisations had repeatedly proposed reforms through consultations, but many of those recommendations were not reflected in the recently issued amendment ordinance.
“We do not want the ordinance to be passed in its current form in the parliament session starting March 12. We want further consultation so that the amendments we proposed are incorporated,” she said.
Shaheen also called for the immediate formation of the Information Commission, saying its prolonged absence had created a serious gap in citizens’ access to information.
She added that appointments to the commission must be transparent and based on competence and independence.
Shaheen also said women’s access to information remained weak and should be made easier.
Iftekharuzzaman said Bangladesh had made little progress in implementing the RTI law over the past 16 years under an authoritarian system that kept the commission ineffective. He said the interim government also failed to set a better example and left the commission unformed despite having the opportunity to strengthen transparency in governance.
Referring to past appointments, he said many commissioners had spent their professional lives keeping information secret, which undermined the purpose of the institution. “If the leadership of the commission itself is influenced by partisan considerations, it becomes difficult to expect an environment where the right to information can be effectively practised,” he said.
He also said the law should be amended to bring the private sector and political parties under its scope.
He added that the status and benefits of commissioners should be fixed by law, with the chief information commissioner equivalent to the Appellate Division and other commissioners equivalent to the High Court Division.
MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman, said the Information Commission had remained absent since the July-August political changes, leaving more than 1,000 complaints pending.
He said the amendment ordinance introduced only limited changes, although some provisions strengthened the law.  However, several key proposals remained unaddressed. These included adding “note sheet” to the definition of information, reviewing Section 7 of the law, and bringing local government bodies, private entities operating under government contracts or licences, and political parties registered with the Election Commission under the law’s scope.
He also proposed introducing a time-bound process for appointing commissioners so that vacant posts in the Information Commission are filled within a specified period.
Replying to a question, he said the RTI Forum wants a representative nominated by the forum to be included in the search committee for appointing commissioners.
Nagorik Uddyog Chief Executive Zakir Hossain proposed that major government projects hold public hearings every six months so that citizens, journalists and other stakeholders could review progress and raise questions.
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed said private sector entities receiving government incentives, loans or other benefits funded by taxpayers should also be brought under the RTI law.
Sujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said the right to information is vital for a democratic state and that political parties should be brought under the law so that citizens can access information about their finances and operations.

State Information Commission slaps ₹1 lakh penalty on BDA official for failing to provide information under RTI

The Hindu: Bengaluru: Monday, 9^th March 2026.
The commission has chosen to levy penalty on the erring officials taking serious view that failure to provide information under RTI on such a mandatory process will go against the spirit of the legislation

Sending a strong message against officials who have made it a habit to ignore the applications under Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Karnataka Information Commission has cracked the whip on an official of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for repeatedly failing to provide information under the RTI to applicants.
It has slapped a total penalty of ₹1 lakh on Deputy Secretary-1 Umesh in four different cases and directed the authorities concerned to recover the penalty from the official’s salary.
As per the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act, all the public authorities are required to publish details related to handling of their responsibilities on websites. Even the Supreme Court has issued an order making it mandatory for the public authorities to publish such details on their websites in the interest of effective implementation of the RTI Act.
The commission has chosen to levy penalty on the erring officials taking serious view that failure to provide information under RTI on such a mandatory process would go against the spirit of the legislation.
Four different applicants had sought information under the RTI from BDA Deputy Secretary-1 Umesh related to handling of responsibilities under Section 4 of the RTI Act. As the official concerned had ignored their applications, the applicants- Takshak, Tanvita Gaur, Ashwija P., and Balachandra Rao had filled an appeal before the commission.
The commission, which looked into the matter, had issued a show-cause notice to the official in this regard. But even then the official had failed to respond properly and also not provided information to the applicants. Taking exception to the official’s attitude, the commission slapped a penalty of ₹25,000 in each of the four cases and asked his higher-ups to deduct it from his salary.
In addition to this, the commission has also served a notice asking him to show cause as to why it should not recommend to the government to initiate disciplinary action against him.
Another case
In another case, applicant Suresh Chandra Babu had sought a copy of the government order from BDA Secretary Shivakumar on the jurisdictional power of the BDA’s additional land acquisition officer. The applicant had filed an appeal before the commission as the official had not provided the copy of the document. The commission, which looked into the issue, has slapped a penalty of ₹25,000 on him in its order on February 18 and also issued a show cause notice to him, warning of recommending disciplinary action against him to the government.
State Information Commissioner Badruddin K. issued separate orders against the erring officials on February 11 and 18.

Raj HC quashes ₹1000 processing fee for RTI copies of answer sheets, says fee beyond RTI Rules illegal

The Pink City Post: Jaipur: Sunday, 8^th March 2026.
Raj HC quashes ₹1000 processing fee for RTI copies of answer sheets, says fee beyond RTI Rules illegal HC holds universities cannot impose additional processing charges when information is sought under RTI Act.

The Rajasthan High Court has held that universities cannot impose additional processing charges for providing certified copies of answer sheets when such information is sought under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Court ruled that charging a processing fee of ₹1000 per application is contrary to the RTI Act and the rules framed thereunder.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sandeep Shah passed the order in D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 13783/2021, Vipika vs Rajasthan University of Health Sciences & Anr., decided on March 6, 2026.
The Court observed that once information is sought under the RTI Act, the fee structure prescribed under the Act and the Rules must be followed and any additional processing charges imposed by public authorities would be inconsistent with the statutory framework.
The petitioner, Vipika, had approached the Court challenging the guidelines issued by Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) which required applicants to pay ₹1000 per answer book as a processing fee for obtaining certified copies under the RTI Act.
According to the petition, the petitioner was a B.Sc. Nursing student who had failed in two subjects in the final year examination. After the results were declared, she applied under the RTI Act seeking certified copies of her evaluated answer books and deposited the prescribed RTI application fee.
However, the University demanded a total amount of ₹1225 for each answer book, including ₹1000 as processing fee, ₹80 towards photocopy charges calculated at ₹2 per page for 40 pages, and ₹145 as postal charges.
Aggrieved by the demand, the petitioner challenged the legality of the processing fee, contending that such a charge was contrary to the RTI Act and the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, which prescribe only ₹10 as application fee and ₹2 per page for copies of documents. 206800137832021_11
The University defended the demand by relying on Section 7 of the RTI Act and argued that the processing fee represented the cost incurred in providing the information. It was submitted that the University had to employ staff to manage the storage and retrieval of approximately 6.5 lakh answer sheets and therefore the fee had been fixed by the Board of Management.
After examining the statutory scheme of the RTI Act and the Rules of 2012, the Court held that the fee payable for seeking information under the Act is already specified by the statutory rules and public authorities cannot prescribe additional charges that are inconsistent with those rules.
The Court emphasized that Section 22 of the RTI Act gives the Act overriding effect over any other law or regulation, meaning that university guidelines or ordinances cannot override the statutory fee structure provided under the Act.
The Bench further referred to several decisions of the Supreme Court including Institute of Chartered Accountants of India vs Shaunak H. Satya, CBSE vs Aditya Bandopadhyay, and Institute of Company Secretaries of India vs Paras Jain, which recognized the right of examinees to access evaluated answer sheets under the RTI Act and clarified that statutory RTI rules must prevail over institutional regulations.
The Court also relied on a previous Division Bench judgment of the Rajasthan High Court in Alka Matoria vs Maharaja Ganga Singh University, which had struck down a similar processing fee imposed for providing answer sheets under the RTI Act.
The Bench observed that imposing a processing fee of ₹1000 appeared to be an attempt to discourage students from seeking certified copies of their answer books, which runs contrary to the objective of the RTI Act that aims to promote transparency and accountability in public authorities.
Holding the fee structure to be illegal, the Court allowed the writ petition and quashed the University’s guidelines dated September 6, 2012 and the subsequent decision of the Board of Management dated December 20, 2014 insofar as they imposed a processing fee of ₹1000 per application.
The Court directed that whenever information is sought under the RTI Act, the University must provide the information after charging only the fee prescribed under the RTI Rules and nothing beyond it.
Case Title: Vipika vs Rajasthan University of Health Sciences & Anr.
Case Number: D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 13783/2021 
Court: High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Bench at Jodhpur

(Click here for Copy of Judgment)

Legal protection for 23,000 Maharashtra wetlands stuck in red tape despite NCSCM survey : Mrityunjay Bose

Deccan Herald: Mumbai: Sunday, 8^th March 2026.
More than two decades after India prepared the satellite-based National Wetland Atlas, official notification of these ecosystems is still a far cry, environmental watchdog NatConnect Foundation said, citing information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Despite ground-truthing by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), the process of granting legal protection to more than 23,000 wetlands in Maharashtra remains mired in bureaucratic delays, information received under the RTI Act shows.
More than two decades after India prepared the satellite-based National Wetland Atlas, official notification of these ecosystems is still a far cry, environmental watchdog NatConnect Foundation said, citing information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Unless wetlands are formally notified and protected under law, these fragile ecosystems will continue to shrink under growing development pressure, said Nandakumar Pawar, director of Sagar Shakti.
“The scientific data already exists,” said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation. “What is missing is the political will to notify and protect these wetlands before they disappear.”
Kumar said it was alarming that not a single wetland in Maharashtra has yet been formally notified despite extensive scientific mapping. The data was prepared by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, which compiled the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) using multi-date satellite imagery from 2006–07 in collaboration with state remote sensing centres and academic institutions.
However, the wetland survey and documentation prepared by NCSCM over the past two years will now be referred to district administrations for further verification before the notification process can proceed, according to the state’s Environment and Climate Change Department.
The department also informed NatConnect that district collectors would conduct additional ground verification, after which wetland lists would be placed in the public domain to invite suggestions and objections from citizens.
“This is shocking,” Kumar said. “Despite NCSCM’s detailed survey and documentation, the report is still being ping-ponged between agencies while wetlands continue to be encroached upon and destroyed.”
Ground-truthing, or physical verification, is the responsibility of district and taluka-level revenue authorities, since they maintain all land records, Pawar said. However, he alleged that government agencies from district collectors to CIDCO, the Urban Development Department and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority do not appear serious about protecting wetlands and coastal areas by preparing the statutory 1:4,000-scale maps.
As a result, large-scale land grabbing through landfill of wetlands continues unchecked. The consequences are already visible, Pawar said, pointing to unseasonal flooding in parts of Uran. RTI information from revenue officials showed that the government had to pay nearly Rs 4 crore in compensation to flood victims in an area that had not witnessed inundation for more than two decades. Pawar said the payouts came from taxpayers’ hard-earned money and were largely avoidable had wetlands been protected.
Environmental organisation Vanashakti has been engaged in prolonged legal battles seeking implementation of the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, which require states to identify and notify wetlands for protection. At one stage, the Supreme Court directed governments to protect all major wetlands larger than 2.25 hectares.
Nationally, the scale of the issue is enormous. The Wetland Atlas identified 7,57,040 wetlands, of which 2,00,205 are larger than 2.25 hectares, yet only 1,315 wetlands have been listed on the Indian Wetlands Portal of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The portal currently recognises 98 wetlands as globally significant Ramsar sites.
Wetlands provide vital ecological services such as flood control, groundwater recharge, climate regulation, waste treatment and biodiversity habitat. Yet scientists estimate that around half of the world’s wetlands have disappeared over the past century due to industrial expansion, agriculture and urban development.
Maharashtra itself has a vast wetland network across its 35 districts. Satellite mapping shows that Mumbai suburban district has 412 wetlands, Mumbai city 63, Thane 1,895 and Raigad 1,760. Wetland-rich districts such as Pune, Nashik, Thane and Ahmednagar each account for more than five per cent of the state’s total wetland area.
Environmentalists warn that unless the notification process is expedited, many of Maharashtra’s wetlands could disappear even before they receive the legal protection promised under law.

Tamil Nadu’s state information commission website down for more than 10 days, 2nd time in six months

Times of India: Chennai: Sunday, 8^th March 2026.
Thousands of RTI appellants are finding it difficult to check the cause list and orders online as the Tamil Nadu state information commission's website has been inaccessible for more than 10 days. They have also not been able to file a second appeal before the commission.

The initial plea and the first appeal under the Right to Information Act can be filed via state govt's e-governance website, rtionline.tn.gov.in, but the second appeal can be filed only on the information commission's website. "Though the RTI Act does not explicitly mention it, the commission demands the appeal be filed in a specific format, which can be downloaded only from its website. So, keeping the website down for 10 days is not acceptable," said Mahendran Thiagarajan, Chennai coordinator of the ‘Ten Rupee Movement', which campaigns against corruption.
Another RTI activist, Akbar Ahmed, said he was unable to access the order dated Feb 16 issued by chief information commissioner Shakeel Akhter in connection with the implementation of the National Human Rights Commission's order. "Chengalpet collectorate furnished wrong information for my appeal. I filed a complaint petition. It was heard on Feb 16, but I couldn't read the order since the website is down," he said.
This is the second time in six months that the web portal has been inaccessible for more than 10 days. Managed by the National Informatics Centre, which also maintains other govt sites, the commission's website is the only gateway to access the commission's orders on appeals, as well as the cause list to check if appeals are listed for hearing. Only with the help of the cause list can appellants request a hearing via video conferencing in case they cannot personally appear before the commission for a hearing.
Officials at the information commission said that the website was under maintenance and will active soon.

PIC issues warning to federal ministries over RTI act violations, Senate told : By Nadeem Tanoli

Minute Mirror: Islamabad: Saturday, 7^th March 2026.

Serious concerns over transparency in federal institutions surfaced in the Senate after it emerged that the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) had issued formal warnings to ministries for failing to comply with the Right of Access to Information (RTI) Act, 2017, with the possibility of penalties for non compliance.
The disclosure came during the Senate Question Answer session when Senator Rubina Qaim Khani asked the government what steps had been taken to enforce Section 5 of the RTI Act and which departments had faced penal action for failing to comply.
In his official reply, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar informed the Senate that the Pakistan Information Commission has taken active steps to enforce the law by issuing directives to principal officers of all federal public bodies. He stated that if ministries fail to comply with the proactive disclosure requirements under Section 5, the Commission can issue show-cause notices and impose penalties under Section 20 of the Act after providing an opportunity of hearing.
Documents shared during the session revealed that the PIC had formally written to several ministries warning them to comply with transparency obligations. In letters dated 15 January 2025, signed by Assistant Director of the Pakistan Information Commission, federal ministries were directed to ensure proactive disclosure of information on their official platforms.
Among the ministries that received these directives were the Ministry of Human Rights and the Ministry of Law and Justice. The commission instructed them to ensure that public bodies under their jurisdiction publish key information online and submit a compliance report by 14 February 2025, warning that legal action under the RTI Act could follow if the requirements were not met.
The PIC guidelines emphasized that under Section 5 of the RTI Act, every public body must publish a wide range of information within six months. This includes details about organizational functions, directories of officers and their salaries and benefits, rules and regulations, policy decisions, procedures for licenses and permits, budget details, and contact information of officials responsible for providing information. The guidelines also require publication of performance reports, audit reports, investigation findings, and other records considered necessary for public interest.
Following the warning letters, both ministries responded to the commission confirming compliance measures. The Ministry of Human Rights informed the PIC in a letter dated 4 February 2025 that it had circulated instructions to all Public Information Officers and affiliated departments to ensure strict adherence to the RTI law.
Similarly, the Ministry of Law and Justice responded on 14 February 2025 through an official memorandum stating that most relevant information had already been uploaded to its website and that records regarding RTI applications and appeals for the year 2024 had also been made publicly available.

Only 50 of Delhi’s 194 police stations have paralegal volunteers; 1 POCSO victim aided in 2025: RTI

Hindustan Times: New Delhi: Saturday, 7^th March 2026.
Only 50 of Delhi's 194 police stations currently have paralegal volunteers and only one victim of a POCSO case availed their assistance in 2025, despite a Supreme Court mandate on it, an RTI query has revealed.

Paralegal volunteers work in three shifts of eight hours each at the 50 police stations, which comes around to a fourth of all stations in the national capital, data provided by the Delhi State Legal Services Authority showed.
However, their utilisation in Protection of Children from Sexual Offences cases appears minimal. According to replies received from district legal services authorities, only one POCSO case in 2025 in southwest district involved the assignment of a PLV to assist the victim.
The replies to the RTI query also indicate that the volunteers are not specifically deployed for POCSO cases and are primarily engaged under the 'Missing Children' project.
Data shows that in the northeast district, four of the 10 police stations - Gokalpuri, Khajuri Khas, New Usmanpur and Karawal Nagar - have PLVs deployed. In New Delhi district, only two police stations, Sagarpur and Vasant Kunj South, have such volunteers.
In south district, five of the 14 police stations - Sangam Vihar, Fatehpur Beri, Neb Sarai, Ambedkar Nagar and Mehrauli - have PLV deployment. In Shahdara district, Seemapuri, Nand Nagri, Harsh Vihar and Jafrabad police stations have PLV services.
North district, which has 15 police stations, has PLVs deployed in Alipur, Jahangirpuri, Bawana, Bhalaswa Dairy, Samaypur Badli, Narela, Shahbad Dairy and Swaroop Nagar police stations.
In southwest district, six of the 16 police stations - Bindapur, Dabri, Uttam Nagar, Najafgarh, Kapashera and Palam - have PLVs, while in northwest district, seven of the 19 police stations have them.
DSLSA said that in 2025, five training programmes were conducted in which 661 PLVs were trained on various subjects, including laws related to POCSO.
The issue came under scrutiny last year in the Supreme Court, which expressed concern over gaps in the deployment of PLVs at police stations and the shortage of support persons mandated under Section 39 of the POCSO Act.
Hearing a petition filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the court observed that PLVs serve as an important interface for child victims during their first interaction with police and help ensure legal assistance and support during investigation and trial.
The bench directed all states and Union territories to verify the data regarding PLV deployment and take corrective steps wherever volunteers have not been empanelled or funds have not been allocated for the scheme.
It also directed authorities to reassess the requirement of support persons in view of pending POCSO cases and ensure that trained personnel are available to assist child victims during investigation and trial.

Court of Appeal rules private television broadcaster subject to RTI Act : LAKMAL SOORIYAGODA

Daily Mirror: Sri Lanka: Saturday, 7^th March 2026.
Colombo, March 6 (Daily Mirror)- In a landmark judgment on the scope of the Right to Information Act, the Court of Appeal has held that a private television broadcaster can be considered a “public authority” under certain circumstances and is therefore subject to the provisions of the RTI law.

The ruling arose from a dispute between Asia Broadcasting Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, which operates Hiru TV, and the mother of a murder suspect who sought information regarding news reports aired about her son’s arrest. The appellant mother had requested details about the sources of the information and whether the news had been properly verified by the broadcaster.
The broadcaster declined to disclose the requested information, prompting the matter to be taken before the Right to Information Commission of Sri Lanka. The Commission ruled that the broadcaster falls within the definition of a “public authority” under Section 43(g) of the RTI Act and is therefore required to disclose certain information.
Dissatisfied with this determination, the broadcaster filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal challenging the Commission’s decision.
A two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justice Dr. Sumudu Premachandra and Justice R. Gurusinghe upheld the decision of the RTI Commission. The court observed that a private entity or organisation carrying out a public function or service under a licence issued by the government or its agencies could be treated as a “public authority” under the RTI Act.
Although the petitioner is a private broadcaster, the court held that it operates under licences issued pursuant to the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Act and the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, and therefore functions within a framework of statutory regulation and public interest obligations.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Premachandra observed that private media institutions perform an important public function and must remain accountable to the public. The court noted that airwaves are public property and should be used to ensure plurality of opinions and accurate reporting.
“The court is of the view that disclosing the requested information would not infringe upon press freedom but would instead strengthen the right to information guaranteed under Article 14A of the Constitution,” the judge stated.
The court also highlighted the growing threat of false information in the media landscape, including disinformation and misinformation that may be spread intentionally or unintentionally to manipulate public opinion or generate revenue. Such information, the court noted, spreads rapidly through social media and other digital platforms, leaving individuals who are affected by inaccurate reports with limited means to defend themselves.
In this context, the court stressed the importance of transparency in verifying news reports. The court held that the information requested specifically whether the news had been verified by editors and news directors and the identities of those responsible for verification did not constitute private or sensitive information and did not violate privacy rights.
Accordingly, the Court of Appeal found no merit in the broadcaster’s application and affirmed the RTI Commission’s determination that the broadcaster falls within the definition of a public authority under Section 43(g) of the RTI Act.
Counsel Manoj Bandara with Thidas Herath and Thamali Wijekoon instructed by Sudath Perera Associates appeared for the petitioner broadcaster.
Counsel Suren D. Perera with Manushika Cooray and Hiruni Perera appeared for the appellant – respondent instructed by Human Rights Law Chambers.
Counsel Aruni Senarathna for the Right to Information Commission.

Can UPSC coaching centres publish mock interviews without consent RTI query raises issue

The Week: National: Saturday, 7^th March 2026.
Can a coaching institute publish a candidate's mock interview online without his consent? The question was raised through an RTI application before the Department of Consumer Affairs, bringing attention to the use of aspirants' interviews and personal details by coaching centres.

The query, filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005, had sought to know whether coaching institutes can upload a candidate's mock interview conducted during the preparations for the UPSC Civil Services Examination even if the aspirant later objects to its publication.
However, in response, the Department of Consumer Affairs said the queries were in the nature of seeking advice or clarification and therefore, did not fall within the definition of "information" under section 2(f) of the RTI Act.
The reply was later upheld by the Central Information Commission, which dismissed the appeal after observing that the public authority had provided an appropriate response.
The applicant, Shashank Gaur, had specifically asked: "Does the coaching have right to publish Mock Interview in this case? Can a candidate deny publishing of his Mock Interview? Or coachings can publish his Mock Interview without his consent?"
The RTI application had said such a situation may arise when a candidate gives a mock interview in early stages of preparations and performs poorly, but improves later. If the earlier interview is published after the declaration of the results, it could portray the candidate in a negative light and invite adverse comments on social media platforms.
Another question in the application was related to the use of students' names by coaching institutes for promotional purposes.
The applicant had asked: "If the student has not used the course purchased and after the declaration of results, candidate wants that his name not be used for that particular course, does the coaching has right to publish student name? Is the consent of the student not necessary?"
The issue gained prominence as the results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 were declared on Friday, a time when coaching institutes often publicise candidates' interviews and names for promotional purposes.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

172 killed in 768 road accidents in Jammu city in 2025

Greater Kashmir: Srinagar: Saturday, 7^th March 2026.
RTI reveals 356 injured, over 6.24 lakh vehicles challaned, Rs 5.78 crore fines collected

As many as 172 people were killed and 356 others injured in 768 road accidents reported across Jammu city in 2025, official figures obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act have revealed.
The official figures have raised concerns about the traffic safety and enforcement in the Jammu city.
AS per the official figures provided by the Traffic City Jammu, over 170 lives have been lost.
The figures were obtained through RTI by M M Shuja.
In wake of the road accidents, the Traffic Police Jammu launched extensive drives during the year as part of its enforcement measures.
As per the figures as many as 6.24 lakh vehicles were challaned in 2025 and a revenue worth Rs 5.78 crore was collected by the traffic department in the year.
Traffic officials said the enforcement drives target the violations including over speeding, dangerous driving, riding without helmets, triple riding and any other acts which are in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act.
As per the official figure the number of traffic cops deployed in Jammu has decreased from 2020 to 2025.
The figures reveal that 324 traffic personnel remained deployed in Jammu during 2020 which however decreased to 293 in 2021 and was 296 in 2022.
The number of traffic cops deployed in Jammu city was 300 in 2023 which decreased to 299 in 2024 and 276 in 2025.
"As on date, 271 Police officers are available in this unit. However in connection with the Darbar move offices in Jammu and to manage traffic in Jammu city, 158 police officials from different units have been attached with the traffic Police Jammu," the official document reads.
"Besides time to time requests have been made to the traffic police headquarters J&K to overcome the shortage," it reads.
The department has said that road safety awareness drives were regularly organised at University, colleges and in schools besides public places to aware the students and general public regarding the road safety.
"Regular induction of high quality and high visibility plastic barricades are installed in Jammu city. Besides this, Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) has been installed in town Hall Jammu by Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and a team from traffic police Jammu has been deployed there for monitoring the same," the document reads.

Telangana Government Medical colleges face 62% faculty shortage, RTI reveals

Hyderabad Mail: Hyderabad: Friday, 6^th March 2026.
A Right to Information (RTI) response from the Office of the Director of Medical Education (DME), Telangana, has revealed a critical faculty shortage in the state’s 35 government medical colleges. Of 6,999 sanctioned teaching posts, 4,383 remain vacant, resulting in a vacancy rate exceeding 62 percent.

The information was provided on January 21, 2026, in response to an RTI application filed by Hyderabad-based activist Sashi Kumar. According to the DME data of the 6,999 sanctioned teaching positions, 4,383 are vacant, resulting in a 62.6% vacancy rate. The shortage is most acute among Tutors, with only 30 of 473 positions filled, reflecting a 93.7% vacancy rate. Associate Professors have a 71.7% vacancy rate, with 1,119 of 1,560 posts unfilled. Assistant Professors face a 63.4% vacancy rate, while Professors have 484 of 1,280 positions vacant, or 37.8%.
The DME office confirmed that a request for direct recruitment of Assistant Professors was submitted to the Medical and Health Services Recruitment Board, leading to Notification No. 03/2025 on June 28, 2025. The recruitment process is ongoing, with no timeline for completion. The RTI reply shows that many teachers were promoted in the last two academic years under the Promotion Quota. In 2023–24, 106 Associate Professors became Professors and 248 Assistant Professors became Associate Professors, with no one promoted to Additional Director of Medical Education. In 2024–25, 281 Associate Professors became Professors and 44 Professors moved up to Additional Director of Medical Education, but only 65 Assistant Professors were promoted to Associate Professor.
Despite the increase in promotions during 2024–25, these measures do not address the significant backlog, especially at the Assistant Professor and Tutor levels, where new hires are required.
The staffing situation is projected to worsen over the next year due to upcoming retirements. Thirty-five faculty members, including senior leadership and 27 Professors, are set to retire, further reducing the already limited senior faculty and worsening shortages across cadres.
With more than 62% of teaching jobs empty in 35 government medical colleges, the teachers who are still there are under a lot of pressure. This shortage puts the quality of medical education and healthcare at risk. The lack of Tutors, who are needed for hands-on teaching and showing students how to care for patients, is especially worrying.

गोपनीय रहेंगी जनगणना की जानकारियां, आरटीआई के दायरे से भी होंगी बाहर, जानिये वजह

ETV Bharat: Dehradun: Friday, 6^th March 2026.
जनगणना की रिपोर्ट जारी की जाती है तो उस दौरान एग्रीगेटर लेवल पर ही जानकारी डिस्क्लोज की जाती हैं.

उत्तराखंड में 25 अप्रैल से शुरू होने जा रहे जनगणना के पहले चरण के तहत मकान सूचीकरण एवं गणना की जानकारी को पूरी तरह से गोपनीय रखा जाएगा. खास बात यह है कि इस पूरी जनगणना की जानकारी कोई भी व्यक्ति आरटीआई के जरिए नहीं ले सकेगा. इसके अलावा, जनगणना से संबंधित जानकारियां पुलिस और न्यायालय में बतौर साक्ष्य नहीं दिया जा सकता है. ये जनगणना पूरी तरह से डिजिटल तरीके से होनी है. जिसके चलते इसकी सिक्योरिटी पर विशेष जोर दिया गया है.
उत्तराखंड सरकार ने राज्य में जनगणना के पहले चरण के तहत मकान सूचीकरण एवं गणना के कार्य की अधिसूचना जारी कर दी है. अधिसूचना के तहत, प्रदेश में 25 अप्रैल से 24 मई 2026 तक मकान सूचीकरण एवं गणना का कार्य संपन्न कराया जाएगा. उससे 15 दिन पहले यानी 9 अप्रैल से 24 अप्रैल तक जनता को स्वागणना की सुविधा भी उपलब्ध कराई जाएगी. जिसके मद्देनजर जनगणना कार्य निदेशालय की ओर से तैयारी तेज कर दी गई है. जनगणना के दौरान एक बड़ा सवाल यही उठ रहा है कि जनगणना की जानकारियां सार्वजनिक हो जाएगी, क्योंकि जातिगत जनगणना किया जाना है.

जनगणना कार्य निदेशालय की निदेशक इवा आशीष श्रीवास्तव ने कहा जनगणना एक्ट के तहत जनगणना के दौरान जो भी जानकारियां एकत्र की जाती हैं उसको पुलिस या न्यायालय में साक्ष्य के रूप में नहीं दिया जा सकता है. इसके साथ ही जनगणना की जानकारियां आरटीआई के अंतर्गत भी नहीं आती हैं. इसके अलावा, जनगणना के दौरान गणना कार्य में लगे कर्मचारी यानी इन्यूमेरेटर्स, किसी भी तरह की जानकारी को डिस्क्लोज नहीं कर सकते हैं. लिहाजा जनगणना के दौरान जो भी जानकारियां एकत्र की जाती हैं उन सभी को गुप्त रखा जाता है. उन्होंने बताया जब जनगणना की रिपोर्ट जारी की जाती है तो उस दौरान एग्रीगेटर लेवल पर ही जानकारी डिस्क्लोज की जाती है. यानी किसी भी वार्ड में किस-किस नाम के व्यक्ति रह रहे हैं इसकी जानकारी नहीं मिलेगी, बल्कि यह जानकारी मिलेगी कि संबंधित वार्ड में कितने व्यक्ति निवास करते हैं. इसी तरह किसी भी वार्ड में कितने बच्चे हैं, किस उम्र के हैं, स्कूल जा रहे हैं या नहीं जा रहे हैं, इसकी जानकारी मिल सकती है, लेकिन किसी बच्चे के पेरेंट्स कौन हैं? वो बच्चा किस स्कूल में जा रहा है? इस तरह की जानकारियां उपलब्ध नहीं होंगी.
ईवा आशीष श्रीवास्तव ने कहा जनगणना का काम पूरी तरह से डिजिटल तरीके से होना है. ऐसे में डेटा सुरक्षित रखने के लिए एंड टू एंड इंक्रिप्शन की प्रक्रिया अपनाई गई है. साल 2021 में जब जनगणना शुरू होने की संभावना जताई गई थी उस दौरान से ही डेटा को पूरी तरह से सुरक्षित रखने की कार्रवाई चल रही थी. जनगणना कार्य देरी से शुरू होने के पीछे एक मुख्य वजह ये भी है.

Archaeological Authority: ‘No documents on temple pre-existing the Sambhal mosque’ : By Nirmala Carvalho

Asia News: Sambhal: Friday, 6^th March 2026.
Built around 1526, the protected structure is at the center of a legal dispute that has caused violence: Hindu petitioners claim it was built on top of a Shiva temple. The Archaeological Survey of India states that it has no documents on the state of the site prior to construction. The Central Information Commission has rejected the appeal.

The Shahi Jama Masjid mosque in Sambhal - built around 1526, the oldest of the Mughal era in South Asia - is at the center of a legal dispute following claims by some Hindu petitioners that it was built on top of a Shiva temple. However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - the government agency that protects the site - has stated that it has no documentation indicating that the mosque was built after the demolition of a previous structure, nor any documents identifying the owner of the land during its construction.
An ASI investigation in November 2024 ordered by the court sparked violent clashes between local residents and police, in which four people died from gunshot wounds, while several others remain in prison in connection with the violence. The court had examined a claim by Hindus who argued that the mosque had been built by demolishing a Shiva temple during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. There had been friction, with some members of the investigation team irritating the area's Muslim minority population with chants.
A commission appointed by the Sambhal District Court reportedly stated in a 2024 report that symbols associated with Hinduism had been found in the Shahi Jama Masjid mosque, which has been protected by the ASI since 1920. In addition, Satya Prakash Yadav, a resident of Sambhal, had filed a request under the Right to Information Act of 2005 to find out whether the Mughal-era mosque had been built by demolishing ruins or on vacant land, along with the name of the landowner at the time and documents certifying his property rights.
In its response, the ASI stated that “no such information is available in this office.” Regarding questions about the buildings on the site at the time the mosque was placed under ASI protection, any subsequent construction, and past disputes associated with the site, the ASI explicitly stated to the Central Information Commission (CIC) that its archives contain “no such information” regarding the facts.
However, during the first appeal proceedings before the Central Information Commission, the ASI had stated that although no new construction is permitted within a protected monument, an “illegal” steel railing had been erected at the Shahi Jama Masjid mosque site in 2018, and that the department had issued an order to stop the work.
The petitioner had also requested information about the period of construction of the mosque. The ASI replied that, according to its records, “the Jama Masjid Sambhal was built in the year 1526.” When asked whether the structure was previously known by another name, the department replied that the mosque was protected by the ASI without changing the previous name of the site.
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission, the petitioner argued that some key information had been wrongfully denied on the grounds of unavailability. The ASI argued that it had provided all the information available in its archives and was not obliged to create or collect information not in its possession.
Confirming ASI's position, the Commission noted that the RTI Act requires public authorities to disclose only existing documents and does not require them to generate new information. Finding no grounds for further action, the Commission therefore dismissed the appeal, considering that ASI's responses including its statement that it had no documents indicating whether the mosque had been built on ruins or on vacant land were in accordance with the law.