RTI Second Appeals Pending In Maharashtra Rise By 38% As Backlog Weakens Transparency Law

Free Press Journal: New Delhi: Wednesday, 10^Th June 2026.
Pending RTI second appeals in Maharashtra rose to 5,060 by March 2026, up from 3,672 at the start of the year, according to Sajag Nagrik Manch. The Konkan Bench disposed of 3,482 of 4,870 appeals received. Activists highlighted delays, incomplete disclosures, and frequent information denials by public authorities.

The effectiveness of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Maharashtra is under increasing scrutiny. As per data obtained by Navi Mumbai-based transparency watchdog Sajag Nagrik Manch through the RTI Act has revealed a sharp rise in pending second appeals, raising concerns about the state of transparency and accountability in public administration.
Konkan Bench data
According to information furnished by the Commission, the Konkan Bench received 4,870 new second appeals between April 2025 and March 2026, while disposing of only 3,482 cases during the same period. As a result, pending appeals rose from 3,672 at the beginning of the year to 5,060 by March 2026, marking an increase of nearly 38%.
The Commission also received 670 complaints during the period, disposed of 340, and carried forward 298 complaints as pending.
Activists' concerns
RTI activists say the growing backlog has significantly weakened the effectiveness of the transparency law. Citizens who have already exhausted the mandatory process of filing RTI applications and first appeals are reportedly waiting two to three years for hearings before the Commission.
"The RTI Act was enacted to ensure timely access to information. When applicants have to wait years for their appeals to be heard, the objective of the law is defeated," said representatives of Sajag Nagrik Manch.
Reasons for surge
According to activists, one of the key reasons for the surge in appeals is the increasing denial of information by public authorities. Requests are frequently rejected on grounds such as personal information, voluminous records or lack of larger public interest. Delayed responses and incomplete disclosures have also become common complaints across government departments and local bodies.
The organisation noted that while the Commission conducts around 30 to 35 hearings daily, the inflow of fresh appeals continues to outpace disposal rates, resulting in a steadily growing backlog.
Accountability concerns
"By the time many appeals are decided, the concerned officials may have been transferred and accountability becomes difficult to establish," said Trishila Kamble, secretary of Sajag Nagrik Manch.
The organisation has called on the Maharashtra government to strengthen the Information Commission by appointing additional information commissioners, increasing legal and technical staff and improving digital infrastructure to accelerate disposal of cases.
The group proposed that all information supplied under RTI applications be uploaded to a publicly accessible digital platform, subject to legal restrictions, to reduce repetitive requests and improve transparency.
The debate over alleged misuse of the RTI Act has also resurfaced amid the discussion.
"If any RTI applicant is genuinely involved in extortion or blackmail, authorities have adequate legal provisions to initiate action. Yet such prosecutions remain rare despite frequent allegations," said Arun Kagale, vice-president of Sajag Nagrik Manch.
Experts warn that continued delays could erode public confidence in one of India's most significant transparency laws.
". Delayed information often becomes ineffective information. The Right to Information is the lifeblood of democracy, but today that lifeblood is being constrained by delays, pendency and administrative inertia," said Adv. Dr. Vishal Mane, former police officer and administrative advisor to Sajag Nagrik Manch.

SIC Andhra Pradesh Interacts with State Information Commissioners of Punjab

Babushahi.com: Chandigarh: Wednesday, 10^Th June 2026.
Dr. Rehana Begum Interacts with Punjab SICs, Focuses on Citizen-Centric Governance Discuss Innovative Approaches to Enhance Public Access to Information

Dr. Shaik Rehana Begum, the first woman State Information Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, today visited the headquarters of the Punjab State Information Commission in Chandigarh.
During her visit, Dr. Begum held a productive interaction with Punjab State Information Commissioners Dr. Bhupinder Singh Batth, Harpreet Sandhu, and Virenderjit Singh Billing. The meeting focused on exchanging ideas regarding reforms, best practices, and the effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The discussions centered on strengthening transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric governance through innovative approaches in the functioning of Information Commissions. Both sides shared their experiences and perspectives on enhancing the effectiveness of the RTI framework, improving public access to information, and promoting greater responsiveness in governance.
On the occasion, Dr. Begum presented a copy of her authored book, “Frontier”, to the Punjab State Information Commission Library as a gesture of knowledge sharing and institutional cooperation. In return, Punjab State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu presented his acclaimed coffee-table book, “Sukhna Lake at Dawn,” highlighting the natural heritage and scenic beauty of Sukhna Lake.
Dr. Begum also interacted with the officers and staff of the Commission and gained firsthand insight into its functioning and administrative processes.
The visit marked a significant step towards promoting inter-state collaboration and strengthening institutional efforts aimed at promoting transparency and good governance through the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act.

No Absolute Bar On Release Of Aadhaar Biometric Information; Forgery Accused Can’t Get Away On Ground Of Privacy: Andhra Pradesh High Court

Verdictum: Hyderabad: Wednesday, 10^Th June 2026.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court was considering an appeal in a matter pertaining to a property dispute.

Chief Justice Lisa Gill, Justice R Raghunandan Rao, Andhra Pradesh High Court

While asking the Unique Identification Authority of India to release the biometric and Aadhar information of an accused in a forgery and fraud case to the Police for investigation, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that there is no absolute bar for the release of such information under the Aadhaar Act. The High Court also held that a person who is alleged to have committed an offence of forgery for personal gain cannot be permitted to get away with such an offence on the ground of protection of his privacy.
The High Court was considering an appeal in a matter pertaining to a property dispute.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice R Raghunandan Rao held, “As can be seen from the provisions of Section 33(1) of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, there is no absolute bar for release of such information. However, such information, as is permissible under the provisions of the Aadhar Act 2016, can be released only after necessary safeguards are in place. It is for that purpose that the release of such information is restricted and is permissible only when an order of a court which is not inferior to a High Court is obtained.”
“In the present case, a person who is alleged to have committed an offence of forgery for personal gain, cannot be permitted to get away with such an offence, if he has committed such an offence, on the ground of protection of his privacy. In any event, the Aadhaar Card is officially said to have been issued in the name of appellant himself. In such circumstances, the question of privacy also may not arise”, it added.
Advocate Jhansi Guduru represented the Appellant while Government Pleader represented the Respondent.
Factual Background
The appellant, who claimed ownership over certain land, came to know that the person arrayed as the private respondent had impersonated the appellant by creating an Aadhaar Card. It was alleged that he fraudulently executed two deeds of sale in favour of the fourth respondent. The appellant, upon coming to know of the execution and registration of these documents, had filed a First Information Report as well as a declaration that the aforesaid deeds of sale were void and not binding on the appellant. An interim injunction was issued restraining the parties in the said suit from interfering with the peaceful possession of the appellant over the said land. The District Registrar and Inspector of Registration Offices took cognisance of a complaint filed by the son of the appellant and cancelled the said deeds of sale. The said orders of cancellation were challenged by the fourth respondent.
The appellant, while pursuing the complaint given by the appellant, sought the details of the Aadhaar Card along with the biometric information available under such Aadhaar Card from Unique Identification Authority of India. This request made under the Right to Information Act was rejected by the Authority on the ground that such information cannot be given in view of the bar under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. As the information was not being given, the appellant approached the Commissioner of Police for such information to be obtained. The appellant, thereafter, approached the High Court seeking a declaration that the order of rejection should be declared illegal. This Writ Petition came to be dismissed by a Single Judge. Aggrieved thereby, the appellant filed the appeal.
Reasoning
Referring to Section 33(1) of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, the Bench held that there is no absolute bar for the release of such information. On a perusal of the facts of the case, the Bench noted that the Aadhaar Card was officially said to have been issued in the name of the appellant himself. “In such circumstances, the question of privacy also may not arise”, it stated.
The Bench thus held that the said information should be released by the Unique Identification Authority of India to the Commissioner of Police and Station House Office for purposes of proceeding with the investigation. “Respondents 2 & 3 shall release such information, within a period of three (3) weeks from the date of receipt of this order, to respondent No.6”, it further ordered.
Cause Title: Shri Sitaramanjaneyulu Elaprolu v. The Union Of India (Writ Appeal No.:252 of 2026)
Appearance
Appellant: Advocate Jhansi Guduru
Respondent: Government Pleader, Standing Counsel G Sai Narayana Rao
Click here to read/download Order

CIC asks DoPT to trace Information Rights division’s creation records, file affidavit if not found

The Print: Chennai: Wednesday, 10^Th June 2026.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to make fresh efforts to trace records related to the establishment of its Information Rights (IR) division and provide those to an RTI applicant, failing which it must submit an affidavit declaring the records unavailable.
The direction came while disposing of a second appeal arising from an RTI application seeking copies of office orders relating to the constitution, reconstitution or transfer of the IR division in the DoPT, along with details of files in which such orders were issued.
The applicant approached the CIC after officials informed that the requested information was not available in their records.
During the hearing, representatives of both the administration division and the IR division of the DoPT maintained that no such records could be traced.
In its submissions before the commission, the DoPT said the allocation and distribution of work within a department is a routine administrative matter and “does not, by itself, necessitate the constitution of a separate division or specific orders thereon”.
It further stated that efforts were made to locate records relating to the constitution of the IR division, but “the same could not be traced”.
Explaining the present role of the division, the department said the IR division deals with “the establishment matters of CIC, annual programme on propagation of RTI Act and matters related to RTI Online Portal”, while matters related to the Right to Information (RTI) Act are handled by the IR-II section.
Observing that the appellant disputed the department’s claim regarding non-availability of records, Information Commissioner Jaya Varma Sinha directed the DoPT to diligently search its database and records and provide the information within three weeks if the documents are located.
The commission said if the records are still not found, the CPIO concerned shall submit an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper, affirming their non-availability, and furnish a copy to the appellant. PTI MHS RC
(This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.)

RTI stonewalled: No clarity on vacancies, appointments in Maharashtra State Commission for Women

Times of India: Chennai: Wednesday, 10^Th June 2026.

A recent RTI query seeking details of appointments and vacancies in the Maharashtra State Commission for Women has yielded little beyond a reference to govt’s statutory powers despite the National Commission for Women (NCW) urging states to expedite appointments to state panels. In a reply received on June 2, the women and child development (WCD) department informed city-based RTI activist Vihar Durve that the appointment of the commission’s chairperson and six non-official members was carried out under powers vested in state govt under the Maharashtra State Commission for Women Act, 1993.
Durve had sought details regarding the appointment process, vacant posts in the commission and the timeline for filling them. However, the department did not furnish any specific information and only cited Section 3 and other relevant provisions of the Act under which appointments are made.
“The purpose of my RTI was to find out about the vacancies and when the appointments will take place, not about the rules governing appointments,” Durve told TOI.
Former chairperson Rupali Chakankar resigned from the post on March 20, while the tenure of the commission’s non-official members ended in Jan. The state govt is yet to announce a new chairperson.
The Maharashtra State Commission for Women is a statutory body tasked with safeguarding women’s rights and addressing issues related to gender justice in the state.
The issue gained importance as 2,761 complaints were pending before the Maharashtra State Commission for Women at the end of the last financial year, said Durve, citing information obtained through another RTI query. The commission had disposed of 15,560 cases during 2025-26.
Marital disputes emerged as the single-largest category of unresolved cases.
Women’s rights activists and social sector workers have said the state govt’s WCD department should carry out appointments early. They have even said the next appointment should go to a person with a background in social work and women’s rights rather than a political nominee, citing the rising number of complaints and the growing backlog.
Durve said he would study the RTI response and decide on further action, including filing a first appeal under the RTI Act if necessary.

8-year battle ends: MU pays RTI applicant Rs 10K in damages

DT Next: Chennai: Wednesday, 10^Th June 2026.
P Raj Kapil, a postgraduate in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Madras and currently employed at OP Jindal Global University, had applied in 2018 for the post of project coordinator advertised by the university

University of Madras

An eight-year struggle to obtain information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act from his own alma mater, a postgraduate alumnus of the University of Madras, finally ended last month when he received a cheque of Rs 10,000 as compensation, as directed by the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission.
P Raj Kapil, a postgraduate in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Madras and currently employed at OP Jindal Global University, had applied in 2018 for the post of project coordinator advertised by the university.
After attending an interview conducted by the Department of Criminology, Raj Kapil found that the results were never announced. Instead, the university issued a fresh notification for the same post without declaring the outcome of the earlier recruitment process.
The RTI applicant, an alumnus of MU, had applied for a post in the university and sought to know the status of his application and the recruitment process, after the university initiated a fresh process for the same post.
He filed an RTI application seeking details on whether the interview results, including the marks secured by candidates and the measures adopted to ensure transparency in the recruitment process, would be published or not.
When the information was not furnished, Raj Kapil approached the State Information Commission through a second appeal. The university again failed to provide satisfactory responses, prompting him to file a non-compliance petition.
During hearings in 2022, the university's Public Information Officer informed the commission that the project coordinator posts were proposed under a UNICEF-funded initiative and that the required financial allocation had not been sanctioned. The commission observed that the university had failed to explain to candidates why they were not selected, particularly when the posts themselves had not materialised.
The commission held that applicants had a fundamental right to such information and criticised the university for denying proper responses to one of its own graduates. It further noted that the institution's conduct reflected administrative negligence and a lack of transparency.
Consequently, the commission ordered the university to pay Raj Kapil Rs 10,000 as compensation. However, the university failed to comply immediately and did not implement the commission's directives.
When the matter came up for hearing again in January this year, the commission recorded that the Registrar had declined to comply with its order. Granting a final opportunity, it directed the university to disburse the compensation within 10 days.
Following the commission's intervention, Raj Kapil finally received a compensation cheque for Rs 10,000 from the university registrar on May 20, 2026.
Speaking to DT Next, Raj Kapil said the case demonstrated how public authorities often fail to comply with orders issued by information commissions. He also argued that the RTI Act had gradually lost much of its effectiveness and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms to uphold transparency and public accountability.

One in every 3 faculty posts vacant in top technical institutes | RTI data

The Hindu: New Delhi: Wednesday, 10^Th June 2026.
While the Education Ministry said recruitments were happening across Centrally Funded Technical Institutes, RTI data show 35.2% of posts remain vacant

Of the 20 IITs, nine reported staff vacancies exceeding 35%. | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Over 15 lakh students appeared for the high-stakes Joint Entrance Examination this year to secure a seat in the country’s premier technical institutions. The competition has always been gruelling, particularly for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), with roughly 80 students competing for every undergraduate seat in the 23 IITs.
However, data on vacant teaching positions in these institutes, obtained by The Hindu through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, raise questions on whether the students who surmount extraordinary challenges to get admitted receive the quality of education they deserve.
The Hindu’s request filed under the RTI Act to the Ministry of Education (MoE) in January, seeking details on vacancies in all Central Higher Education Institutions (CHEIs), was forwarded to individual institutions, of which only 79 of the 122 Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) responded. These included 20 IITs, 19 National Institutes of Technology (NITs),18 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), 17 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (Chart 1).

A total of 7,132 of the 20,279 sanctioned faculty positions were vacant in these 79 institutions, which is 35.2%, or roughly one in every three posts. Sixteen institutions had more than 50% of their posts vacant, while another 14 had vacancies exceeding 40%.
Of the 20 IITs, nine reported vacancies exceeding 35% (Chart 2).

The share of vacant posts exceeded 50% in IIT Kharagpur. The institute has a sanctioned strength of 1,600 teaching posts the highest among the 20 IITs; 824 of these remained vacant. 35% of the 11,019 sanctioned posts in all 20 IITs were vacant.
A similar analysis for 19 of the 31 NITs that provided the data shows that four had vacancies exceeding 40% (Chart 3). As per the data, 27.9% of 5,432 posts in these 19 NITs have not been filled. With over 129 of the 187 posts (68%) remaining vacant, NIT Andhra Pradesh accounted for the highest share of vacancies. More than 40% of the sanctioned posts were vacant in NIT Srinagar, NIT Sikkim and NIT Tiruchirapalli, which had the highest with 600 sanctioned posts.
According to a reply given in Parliament by the MoE last year, the sanctioning of faculty posts for NITs and IITs is a dynamic process, subject to periodic review in accordance with institutional requirements and a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:12 for NITs and 1:10 for IITs.
In 18 of the 21 IIMs that provided data, 32.3% of 1,741 sanctioned posts were vacant. Four IIMs reported vacancies exceeding 50% (Chart 4). IIM Mumbai had 59% of its posts vacant, with 77 of 130 vacancies unfilled.
IIITs reported the highest percentage of vacancies although their sanctioned posts were relatively low. A total of 665 (53.5%) of the 1,225 posts in 17 of the 25 IIITs that provided data were vacant. Vacancies exceeded 50% in eight of them (Chart 5). In five of the seven IISERs that provided data, 276 of the 862 posts were lying vacant.
In another reply to the Lok Sabha earlier this year, the MoE, while not furnishing the number of vacancies, said that “occurrence of vacancies and filling thereof is a continuous process”. It further said that all CHEIs were exhorted to fill vacancies in September 2022 and later in October 2025 under a “Mission Mode” recruitment drive. It said that, as of January 24, 2026, a total of 17,878 faculty positions has been filled across all CHEIs under this “Mission Mode”.

CPCB imposes ₹48-cr environmental compensation on polluting industries: RTI

Hindustan Times: New Delhi: Tuesday, 9^th June 2026.
The information supplied by the CPCB following an RTI application file by advocate Kamal Anand from Punjab, reveals that since 2018 the penalties were imposed across various sectors, including chemical industry.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has imposed environmental compensation of nearly ₹48 crore on industries for various environmental violations across the country as ₹15.72 crore have been imposed on 51 industries located in the Ganga Basin in various states. (HT File)

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has imposed environmental compensation of nearly ₹48 crore on industries for various environmental violations across the country as ₹15.72 crore have been imposed on 51 industries located in the Ganga Basin in various states.
The information supplied by the CPCB following an RTI application file by advocate Kamal Anand from Punjab, reveals that since 2018 the penalties were imposed across various sectors, including chemical industry, amounting to ₹10.76 crore, the plastic industry amounting to ₹8.82 crore, and the sugar and distilleries sector amounting to ₹6.04 crore. In addition, 46 healthcare facilities were penalised for biomedical waste violations totalling ₹3.03 crore, while 13 hazardous waste facilities were fined nearly ₹2 crore.
Among the biggest violators, is a Rampur (Uttar Pradesh) based distillery and chemical company was imposed the highest penalty of ₹7.29 crore, making it the single-largest environmental compensation levied on an industrial unit in the records disclosed by the CPCB, reveals the information furnished by the CPCB after intervention by the first appellate authority.
However, the reply indicates that a majority of the violations in the Ganga Basin were linked to the liquor and sugar industries in Uttar Pradesh, sectors that have frequently come under the scanner for pollution-related violations.
According to the sector-wise details, the chemical industry attracted the highest compensation of ₹10.76 crore, with major public sector units figuring among the units penalised for non-compliance with environmental regulations, as two key natural gas processing units of GAIL India’s Pata Petrochemical located in Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh ( ₹37.12 lakh) and GAIL Complex Vijaipur in Guna of Madhya Pradesh ( ₹8.70 lakh) IOCL’s Gujarat Refinery in Vadodara ( ₹21.60 lakh), Madras Fertilizers Limited ( ₹1.93 crore) , Chennai Petroleum Corporation limited in Manali of Tiruvallur Tamil Nadu ( ₹74.70 lakh) and HPCL Biofuels Limited Sugauli of East Champaran Bihar ( ₹7.71 lakh) and HPCL Mumbai Refinery ( ₹25.20 lakh) and six cooperative sugarmills of Uttar Pradesh faced the penalties of ₹71.10 lakh.
The plastic industry followed with environmental compensation of ₹8.82 crore, including penalties imposed on the major pan masala manufacturers while the sugar and distillery sector accounted for another ₹6.04 crore in compensation.
The records further reveal instances where industries continued operations despite regulatory action as some industries were even found operating despite closure directions issued by the CPCB for failing to install online continuous effluent monitoring systems (OCEMS).
Another major challenge has come to fore in this in total 46 healthcare facilities were fined more than ₹3.03 crore for violations of Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules and for failing to comply with mandatory Covid-era waste tracking requirements.
Similarly, leading cement manufacturers were penalised for violating prescribed emission norms. In another category, 13 hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities were fined nearly ₹2 crore for failing to comply with CPCB directives regarding infrastructure upgrades and environmental safeguards.
While welcoming the disclosure of compensation figures, Anand raised concerns over the utilisation of the funds collected from polluting industries. According to him, the CPCB did not provide details regarding the expenditure of approximately ₹48.42 crore collected as environmental compensation.
“The amount collected from industries in the name of environmental restoration should be in the public domain. Since the CPCB did not provide the information regarding the utilisation of the EC for the restoration of the environment, now we have filed a second appeal before the Central Information Commission for this information,” Anand added.
In figures

• Total environmental compensation imposed: ₹48.02 crore
• Ganga Basin industries: ₹15.72 crore across 51 units
• Chemical industry: ₹10.76 crore
• Plastic industry: ₹8.82 crore
• Sugar and distilleries: ₹6.04 crore
• Biomedical waste violations: 46 units fined ₹3.03 crore
• Hazardous waste facilities: 13 units fined ₹2 crore

CIC asks UGC to address promotion concerns for non-teaching staff

News Arena: New Delhi: Tuesday, 9^th June 2026.
The appellant alleged that despite the UGC framing Model Cadre Recruitment Rules (CRR), some universities were extending the benefits only to the newly appointed employees, and sought information on the steps taken to ensure their implementation.

The Central Information Commission has asked the University Grants Commission to address concerns over the implementation of cadre recruitment rules governing promotions for non-teaching staff in Central universities after noting that the issue raised by an RTI applicant was “a matter of great concern”.
The case stems from an RTI application seeking details of action taken by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education on recommendations relating to promotional avenues for engineers, programmers, system analysts, network analysts, security officers, and other non-teaching personnel in Central universities.
The appellant alleged that despite the UGC framing Model Cadre Recruitment Rules (CRR), some universities were extending the benefits only to the newly appointed employees, and sought information on the steps taken to ensure their implementation.
"The issue raised by the appellant during the hearing regarding non-disclosure of action taken by the Central universities regarding the implementation of Model Cadre Recruitment Rules is a matter of great concern,” Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi said in an order.
Taking what it termed a "liberal view and purposive interpretation of the RTI Act, 2005", the Central Information Commission (CIC) suggested that the UGC write to registrars and other competent authorities of Central universities, highlighting the concerns relating to non-implementation of cadre recruitment rules for non-teaching staff.
The CIC also said that if any such correspondence is issued, a copy should be filed before it and provided to the appellant free of cost.
During the hearing, the appellant argued that although the UGC's cadre recruitment rules for non-teaching staff were intended to benefit the existing employees as well, some Central universities were extending the benefits only to the newly appointed staff.
He also said that information on action taken regarding the implementation of the model rules by the universities had not been disclosed to him.
The UGC submitted that relevant records, including committee-related documents, minutes of its 550th meeting, a letter dated December 7, 2021, and the education ministry's approval dated January 30, 2023, had already been provided to the applicant.
It also told the Commission that Central universities are autonomous institutions created under Acts of Parliament and they are governed by their own statutes and ordinances.
While the UGC does not interfere in their day-to-day functioning, the universities are required to adhere to the model recruitment rules framed by the regulator for the non-teaching staff.
The Commission observed that the reply furnished by the UGC's central public information officer (CPIO) appeared to be in accordance with the RTI Act, noting that a CPIO "can only provide such information as is held in the office record" and is “not obligated to create information”.

RTI reveals Rs 87 crore water-sewer dues pending in Ludhiana MC’s Zone D

The Tribune: Ludhiana: Tuesday, 9^th June 2026.
56,681 consumers listed as defaulters; residents seek transparency in recovery process as data from other civic zones remains awaited

An RTI application filed by city resident Rohit Sabharwal has revealed that water and sewerage dues worth more than Rs 87 crore are pending in the Municipal Corporation’s Zone D, raising questions over the civic body’s recovery mechanism and financial management.
The applicants had sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding outstanding water-sewer charges in all four civic zones A, B, C and D for the past five years.
However, the MC has so far provided details only for Zone D.
According to the information furnished by the civic body, as many as 56,681 consumers in Zone D were listed as defaulters as of June 2, 2026. The total outstanding amount pending against these consumers stands at Rs 87.44 crore.
The figures have assumed significance as the MC has frequently cited financial constraints and shortage of funds while discussing civic works and other expenditure, including employee-related liabilities.
Sabharwal said the information highlighted the need for greater transparency regarding the recovery of public dues. He questioned how such a large amount could remain pending for years and whether adequate efforts had been made to recover it.
City resident Arvind Sharma said the figures warranted a detailed review of the corporation’s recovery system. “If such a huge amount remains unrecovered despite repeated claims of financial stress, the authorities should disclose what action has been taken against chronic defaulters and why the arrears continue to mount,” he said.
The residents pointed out that the information currently pertains only to Zone D and that data relating to Zones A, B and C is still awaited. They said the overall outstanding amount across the city could be significantly higher once details from all zones are made available.

CIC exposes transparency deficit in several J&K UT Govt offices

Daily Excelsior: Jammu: Tuesday, 9^th June 2026.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has exposed what appears to be a disturbing pattern of indifference towards the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Jammu and Kashmir, pulling up officials from four separate departments for withholding information, ignoring statutory appeals, skipping hearings and forcing citizens into prolonged legal battles to access records that should have been disclosed within weeks.

In a series of orders, the copies of which are available with EXCELSIOR, the Chief Information Commissioner ordered initiation of show-cause proceedings against officials of the Revenue Department in Rajouri, District Fund Office Rajouri, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Block Development Offices of BK Pora in Budgam and Kahara in Doda, asking them to explain why penalties should not be imposed for violating provisions of the RTI Act.
The cases reveal a common and troubling trend Public Authorities either failed to respond to RTI applications, furnished information after inordinate delays, ignored orders of appellate authorities or simply chose not to appear before the Commission to defend their actions.
One of the most serious observations came in a case involving a Rajouri resident seeking information about a road, revenue records, maps and alleged encroachment issues in Muradpur village.
The applicant approached the Revenue Department in May 2024 seeking details about the status of a road recorded under specific khasra numbers, its dimensions, alignment, maps and related records. He later informed the Commission that the information was crucial because he was allegedly facing illegal encroachment on his land and that repeated representations to authorities had failed to yield results.
However, according to the Commission’s findings, neither was any information supplied to the applicant nor was the first appeal decided. Matters worsened when no representative from the Revenue Department appeared before the Commission during the hearing and no written explanation was filed.
Taking strong exception to the conduct, the Commission observed that the complete silence of the department amounted to violation of the RTI Act and reflected a casual and indifferent attitude towards transparency obligations. It directed the department to furnish information within two weeks and simultaneously initiated show-cause proceedings against the concerned Public Information Officer (PIO).
Another case highlighted how even retired employees are being compelled to seek intervention from the country’s apex transparency watchdog for access to their own financial records.
A retired Government employee approached the District Fund Office, Rajouri, seeking ledger records of his General Provident Fund account from 1980-81 onwards, claiming there had been miscalculation in settlement of his retirement benefits.
Despite filing an RTI application and subsequent appeal, he received no response and the first appeal remained undecided. During the hearing, it emerged that the information had eventually been supplied and part of the pending amount released.
However, the Commission found that the records were provided only after a delay of more than five months and that the PIO had failed to offer any reasonable explanation for the delay. The official also chose not to attend the hearing.
The Commission further noted that failure of the First Appellate Authority to decide the appeal had rendered the first appellate mechanism ineffective, forcing the applicant to pursue a second appeal before the CIC.
Penalty proceedings have been initiated against the concerned officer.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation also came under severe criticism in a case linked to an alleged unauthorized commercial complex in Channi Kamala area of Jammu.
The RTI applicant had sought copies of demolition notices, enforcement proceedings, violation reports, responses filed by the building owner and follow-up action taken by municipal authorities against the allegedly illegal structure.
The matter became particularly significant because the First Appellate Authority had already directed the concerned officials in August 2024 to provide complete information. Yet, according to the Commission, substantial information remained withheld and was supplied only in February 2026, nearly one-and-a-half years later.
The Commission recorded that information regarding several queries appeared to have been deliberately denied despite clear directions from the appellate authority. It also found fault with the failure to transfer one of the queries to the appropriate Building Section and criticised the absence of the concerned CPIO during the hearing.
In a stern warning, the Commission directed that the pending query be transferred to the competent authority within two weeks and made it clear that non-compliance could invite further penal action. Simultaneously, it ordered issuance of a show-cause notice to Deputy Commissioner South of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
Equally troubling observations emerged in a case involving the BDO office at BK Pora in Budgam district. The applicant had sought extensive details regarding Panchayati Raj Institution funds, MGNREGA works, Swachh Bharat Mission toilets, hand pumps and various development projects executed over several years.
During the hearing, officials claimed that information had been supplied through a communication issued in November 2024. However, when questioned by the Commission, they were unable to establish that the information had actually been delivered to the applicant. Nor could they satisfactorily explain the delay or identify which documents corresponded to specific RTI queries.
The Commission described the conduct of the public authority as irresponsible and unacceptable and ordered a fresh point-wise response to the applicant. It also initiated penalty proceedings against the then Block Development Officer, holding that the RTI application had not been handled in accordance with law.
In another case, the Central Information Commission initiated proceedings against the Block Development Officer (BDO), Kahara in Doda district for violation of the provisions of the RTI Act.
The information sought related to public expenditure and developmental works executed over a decade, records that are central to ensuring transparency in rural governance and utilization of public funds. Yet, according to the case records, neither a response to the RTI application nor a decision on the first appeal was placed on record, forcing the applicant to approach the Commission for relief.
All these cases clearly establish that citizens seeking information about development works, beneficiary lists and public spending are routinely being compelled to undertake lengthy legal battles to secure records that should ordinarily be available under the RTI Act.
The findings raise questions about the functioning of the transparency regime in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the effectiveness of First Appellate Authorities whose intervention is intended to resolve disputes before citizens are compelled to approach the Central Information Commission.

Ngp airport sees 12.24 lakh flyers in 2026 despite West Asia conflict: RTI

Times of India: Nagpur: Monday, 8^th June 2026.
The city's Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport has recorded over 12.22 lakh passengers between January and May this year, according to an RTI reply issued by MIHAN India Ltd.

The data has come as a positive beacon for Nagpur, highlighting steady air traffic movement despite geopolitical uncertainty caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict and a broader economic tightening influenced by calls for austerity by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As per the RTI, the airport handled a total of 12.22 lakh passengers during the period, with 6.07 lakh arrivals and 6.15 lakh departures. The monthly trend shows relatively consistent traffic, with minor fluctuations across the first four months of the year.
In January 2026, the airport recorded 2.86 lakh passengers, followed closely by 2.82 lakh in February. March saw a moderate decline to 2.62 lakh passengers, while April further dipped to 2.5 lakh passengers. Up to May 15, the airport registered 1.39 lakh passengers.
Aviation observers note that the slight dip in March and April aligns with seasonal travel variations and possible adjustments in airline operations amid global fuel price volatility linked to West Asia tensions. Despite this, overall passenger demand has remained resilient, particularly in domestic sectors. The RTI also revealed non-scheduled air traffic activity at the airport. A total of 360 private aircraft and 183 helicopters landed at Nagpur airport between the same time frame.
In terms of financial performance, MIHAN India Ltd reported total revenue of Rs74.86 crore during the same period. This includes aeronautical income of Rs1,743.13 lakh, User Development Fee collections of Rs4,444.47 lakh, cargo (royalty) income of Rs93.50 lakh, and non-aeronautical income of Rs1,204.88 lakh.
The RTI further highlighted growth in cargo-related activity handled through MIHAN's cargo hub. The facility generated Rs4.80 crore from cargo (royalty) operations between January and mid-May. During this period, cargo movement included 1.235 metric tonnes of imports and 15.41 metric tonnes of exports.
Ashish Kale, president of the Association of Industrial Development, said that the data has, in fact, proven that Nagpur should get more flights, not cancellations. "Nagpur is growing as an aero-hub faster than other centres. The airlines should take cognisance of the fact that a majority of flights fly at 90% and above occpuancy, and there is a rising demand for aviation facilities here," he said.

Mental health concerns among resident doctors? RTI says 30 JIPMER PGs sought psychiatric consultation in 2025

Times of India: National: Monday, 8^th June 2026.
An RTI response from the Department of Psychiatry at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, allegedly discloses that 30 postgraduate medical students sought psychiatric consultation in 2025.

The information was provided in response to a Right to Information application seeking details about postgraduate students' duty hours, weekly offs and mental health support. According to the reply, "30 post graduate medical students (MD/MS) took Psychiatric consultation in the year 2025 (January 2025 – December 2025)," the RTI reply says, accoding to a post shared online.
— jsdass1978 (@jsdass1978)
For several other queries, including records relating to duty hours, weekly offs and the number of students who quit the course during 2025, the department responded that it did not have the information.
The post described JIPMER as a "toxic centre" and alleged that postgraduate students face harsh working conditions, excessive duty hours and ragging by senior residents in some departments. The post further claimed that junior doctors are often denied adequate rest and weekly offs.
The social media post specifically made allegations regarding the orthopaedics department, claiming that junior residents are subjected to long duty schedules and intense workplace pressure. It also urged resident doctors to report alleged violations through official grievance mechanisms and legal channels.
"PG ragging in JIPMER is very harsh almost in all clinical departments especially in Ortho. In Ortho no JR can get a week off for the first 180 days of ragging period and juniors are never allowed to eat brush and bathe. Also Ortho JRs have twice 36 hours cruel inhumane duty against residency scheme guidelines. HoD does nothing to alleviate the suffering. All done by senior PGs," the post read.
However, the RTI response itself does not establish any connection between psychiatric consultations and residency conditions, duty hours or ragging.

Legal Awareness Programme on RTI Act held at District Jail Bhaderwah

Jammu Links News: Jammu: Monday, 8^th June 2026.

District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Bhaderwah organized an awareness programme on the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 here at District Jail.
The programme was conducted by LADC Advocate Tahir Hussain Dar, under the direction of the Chairman and Secretary, DLSA, in presence of Superintendent, District Jail Hamidullah Naik.
The event witnessed active participation from jail inmates, police personnel and Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) Renu Devi and Mohammad Afzal.
The participants were sensitized to the objectives, significance and key provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.
Detailed information was provided regarding the statutory right of citizens to seek information from public authorities, the procedure for filing RTI applications and the prescribed timelines for furnishing information under the Act.
Advocate Tahir Hussain Dar emphasized that the RTI Act serves as an important instrument for ensuring transparency, accountability and good governance.

Police ignore RTI query about RW’s UK visit

The island.lk: Sri Lanka: Monday, 8^th June 2026.
Police Headquarters hasn’t responded to a Right to Information (RTI) query regarding sending a team of police officers to the UK to investigate President Ranil Wickremesinghe visit in September, 2023.Sources said that the RTI request was made on 08 January, this year, by journalist Thilini Ranasinghe.

The above request was forwarded to the Senior Deputy Inspector General of the Criminal Investigation and Financial Crimes Investigation Unit on January 09, but the CID has not provided the above information to date.
The appeal application in this regard was forwarded to the Inspector General of Police on January 29.
According to the Right to Information Act, when such a request is made, all relevant details must be provided within a period of 14 days.
The delay in providing information on the money spent by the government on the police officers who visited England has raised serious suspicions in many quarters.
Responding to an inquiry in this regard, a leader of a major political party stated that the requested information is not being provided as the amount spent on the London visit by the police is equivalent to the amount stated by the Criminal Investigation Department that was spent on the visit of the VIII Executive President to England.
The government has alleged Wickremesinghe spent Rs 16.2 mn for his 2023 September UK visit.

All ministries publish mandatory information publicly for the first time : Shazma Thaufeeq

Edition.mv: Maldives: Monday, 8^th June 2026.
A senior government official noted that this marks the first time that all government ministries and the President's Office have made this information public.

Information Commissioner Ahid Rasheed stated today that all ministries have now publicly disclosed the information mandatory to be published by authorities under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, even without an RTI request.
A senior government official noted that this marks the first time that all government ministries and the President's Office have made this information public.
In a post on X accompanied by statistics, Ahid stated that the average for proactive disclosure, information that authorities must disclose on their own initiative under the RTI Act, has now reached 100 percent for the President's Office and 16 ministries of this administration.
He noted that previously, this average stood at 34 percent.
"Appreciate all the teams who worked on this," Ahid said.
"Compliance work might not be glamorous or high-profile. But it is essential baseline work. Reaching this milestone is not the end, it’s the beginning."
According to Ahid, the next steps to be taken are:

• Bringing all departments under the ministries to full compliance levels
• Maintaining and updating the published information
• Advancing towards higher conformance levels
• Ensuring all RTI requests receive timely responses

According to the RTI Act, every authority must, on its own initiative, publish a total of 13 categories of information at least once a year in a way that is easily accessible to the public, including the authority's organizational structure, the services provided, and information regarding the employees working at the institution.
This administration has consistently stated that the government will respond to all RTI requests submitted to obtain information.
According to the latest figures released by the government, a total of 288 RTI requests were submitted from May last year until the first of May this year. Out of these, responses had been provided for 233 RTI requests by that time.

CIC Cites 'Deliberate Resistance'; Orders MCD To Disclose Stray Dog Records, NGO Payments

ETV Bharat: New Delhi: Monday, 8^th June 2026.
The commission said that upfront public disclosure of information sought by the applicant would facilitate regular monitoring of ABC measures and promote transparency and accountability.

After a three-year RTI battle, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has found "determined and deliberate resistance" to disclosure of information by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in a stray dog management case and imposed a Rs 25,000 penalty.
It also awarded Rs 10,000 compensation to the applicant and ordered proactive disclosure of records, including NGO payments, sterilisation and vaccination data. The order referred to the Supreme Court's May 19, 2026, verdict on the stray dog issue, which stressed the need to closely monitor the implementation of Animal Birth Control (ABC) measures through objectively verifiable data.
The CIC said upfront public disclosure of information sought by the applicant would facilitate regular monitoring of ABC measures and promote transparency and accountability.
The case arose from a December 2022 RTI application filed by Akshay Kumar Malhotra seeking information on animal welfare organisations engaged by the MCD, sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs, dog shelters, complaints received by authorities and expenditure incurred on such activities.
The commission said the information sought related to implementation of the animal birth control programme, payments made to NGOs, functioning of animal shelters, monitoring mechanisms and expenditure of public funds, much of which ought to have been proactively disclosed under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act.
During the show-cause proceedings, the CIC observed that the respondents had "clearly evaded providing complete and relevant information on each of the queries and instead asked the appellant/complainant to approach the NGOs who executed the work. Obviously, such NGOs will tell him that they are not a public authority, and they will turn down any request from him," it said.
The commission further observed that despite its earlier directions, the respondent failed to place the information in the public domain and held that "the PIO stands in continued violation of hon'ble Apex Court's orders for upfront public disclosure as mandated under section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act".
"Respondent's determined and deliberate resistance to disclosure of information to the appellant/complainant and also for putting it particularly in the public domain is established beyond any doubt," the commission said.
The CIC directed the MCD commissioner to ensure proactive disclosure of information relating to animal birth control programmes, sterilisation and vaccination data, payments made to NGOs, contracts, monitoring committee details, shelter and kennel information, complaints received and action taken reports.
The commission also took note of the applicant's allegations that disclosure of his personal details to third parties had resulted in intimidation and harassment while he pursued information related to stray dog management in his locality. It observed that proactive disclosure of such information would reduce the possibility of "intimidation and harassment of individual information seekers".
Awarding compensation of Rs 10,000, the commission said the applicant had been deprived of timely access to information concerning "public health, public safety and expenditure of public funds" affecting his locality and was compelled to pursue first appeal, second appeal and show-cause proceedings for more than three years.
"The conduct of the respondent has resulted in unnecessary litigation and avoidable hardship to the appellant," the commission said.