Parliamentary caucus on OGP urges RTI not to relent on its mandate

The Business & Financial Times: Ghana: Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
The Right to Information of citizens is very fundamental and crucial to good democratic governance for which reason the Right to Information Commission must not relent on its mandate, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Member of Parliament for Ho West and Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Open Governance Partnership (OGP) has said.

He maintained that smooth and unimpeded access to information by all citizens and organizations must be treated as a human right issue and given the right attention by all stakeholders including the Right To Information Commission which leads and champions the cause.
Mr. Bedzrah made the call when he led members of the Parliamentary Caucus on Open Governance Partnership to a fact-finding visit to the RTI offices in Dzorwulu in Accra to assess the operations and state of the Commission and share thoughts with it.
He urged the Commission to put in more effort irrespective of any challenges to let the world know what it stood for and what it was doing to ensure transparency and accountability in the governance of the nation from Government and all institutions alike.
The Executive Secretary, Ms. Genevieve Shirley Lartey disclosed that the Commission has religiously carried out requirements of the National Action Plan (NAP-4) which was committed to rollout administrative and institutional arrangement for the implementation of Act 989 following its passage in 2019 and that commitments under NAP-4 have been reprioritized under NAP-5 to include the development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, building capacity of the Public on RTI Law and the passing of regulation for the Legislative Instrument.
Ms. Lartey said the major challenge facing RTIC was funding and subsequent lack of accommodation, a situation that does not augur well for the smooth implementation of its plans and activities.
Mr. Chris Dougan, member of the Governing Board of the Commission, explained that arrangement was far advanced for members of the new Board to be apprised with what was contained in the draft LI before it would be re-submitted to Parliament for consideration.
In response to an issue on Public awareness creation, Mr. Kweku Sersah-Johnson, Technical Advisor, RTIC said the Commission has a Comprehensive Communication Strategy encompassing all aspects of information dissemination and education.
The purpose of the National Action Plan is to improve government transparency and accountability, strengthen public participation in governance and promote open data and anti-corruption efforts.
Members of the Parliamentary Caucus present at the meeting included Mr. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Vice Chairman of the Caucus, Dominic Napare, Shaibu Mahama, Adelaide Ntim and Kaakyire Asira Gyasi, Assistant Secretary, OGP Caucus. Others were Mr. Kofi Sarpong, Ms Kate Swanzy, Mr. Staphen Owusu, Mr. Michael Duodo-Sakyiama, Miss Audrey Korlekuor Odjeawo and Mr. Baffour Eugene all of the RTIC.

CIC asks Delhi Govt to address Ladli scheme gaps related to claim updates, tech glitches

Daily Excelsior: New Delhi: Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has called out gaps in information flow affecting the implementation of the Delhi government’s Ladli scheme, flagging the lack of claim updates and technical glitches faced by beneficiaries in accessing policy documents.

Issuing an advisory under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, the Commission noted that due to “technical issues” on the insurer’s website, beneficiaries are unable to download their policy documents.
Information Commissioner Vinod Kumar Tiwari observed that once maturity claims are sent to the insurance company, “beneficiaries do not get any progress report or information regarding the claim amount or its processing”.
He further pointed out that beneficiaries are also unaware of “which official/employee in the insurance company is handling their case”, underlining gaps in transparency.
The Commission suggested that the department and the insurance company establish better coordination between their systems, including integration through “API/bridging software” for seamless information flow.
It also advised that beneficiaries be informed via SMS as soon as their maturity claims are forwarded so they remain aware of the status.
The Commission also noted that such issues are leading to a surge in RTI filings, observing that beneficiaries are being forced to seek information through applications and appeals.
It said this results in “unnecessary wastage of time and labour” of both public authorities and the commission, which could be avoided by addressing the technical shortcomings and improving information access systems.
The observations came during the hearing of an RTI appeal where issues such as non-receipt of policy documents and lack of clarity on claim processing were raised.
The Ladli scheme of the Delhi government aims to empower girl children by linking financial assistance with their education up to the senior secondary level.
The sanctioned amount is deposited in the name of the girl child with SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd., which manages it until she attains 18 years of age and meets the prescribed education criteria.
The maturity amount can then be used for higher education, vocational training or setting up a micro enterprise. (PTI)

Census 2027: Your data won’t be accessible under RTI or in courts, says Registrar General

The Statesman: New Delhi: Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
India’s next Census will run in two stages with digital data collection, separate timelines across states, and detailed demographic surveys, including caste enumeration in the second phase.

Registrar General Mritunjay Kumar Narayan speaks during a
press briefing, stressing that individual Census 2027 data will
remain confidential and outside RTI and court access.
 IANS/PIB

Individual information collected during Census 2027 will remain strictly protected and cannot be accessed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act or used in court proceedings, Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan said on Monday.
The assurance comes as the government prepares to begin the next nationwide Census exercise, which will be conducted digitally and in two phases. Census 2027 will be the 16th Census in India and the eighth after Independence.
“Census is a vast task to carry on. Census will be carried out in two phases, and this time the data will be collected digitally. The procedure of the Census is carried out under the provisions of the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules 1990. Under Section 15 of the Census Act, the individual data is kept confidential. The data cannot be accessed under the RTI or presented as evidence in court. Only aggregate numbers are used for tabulation. Census 2027 is the 16th Census overall and the eighth after independence.”
Census 2027 to be conducted in two phases
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Narayan said the Census will follow provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and Census Rules, 1990. He underlined that Section 15 of the law guarantees the confidentiality of personal data, with only aggregated figures used for official purposes.
The first phase, known as House Listing, will focus on housing conditions, available amenities and household assets. In this first step, no personal information about individuals will be taken.
The second phase, called Population Enumeration, will gather details about people’s background, including social, economic and cultural aspects, along with information on migration and fertility trends. Caste enumeration will also be carried out during this phase.
The reference date for the Census will be 00:00 hours of March 1, 2027. However, for snow-bound areas such as Ladakh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be October 1, 2026.
Self-enumeration to begin from April in several states
Narayan said self-enumeration will begin between April 1 and April 15 in Delhi and several other regions, followed by the House Listing phase from April 16 to May 15.
Different timelines have been set for some states and Union Territories. In parts of Delhi under the MCD area, self-enumeration will take place from May 1 to 15, followed by House Listing from May 16 to June 14.

He also said the Union Cabinet has approved an outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore for the exercise. Instruction manuals for Phase I have been prepared in 19 languages, and training of Census officials is currently underway.
Narayan noted that the Census process had earlier been planned for 2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RTI shows just one caste killing case in south TN in six years

Times of India: Madurai: Monday, 30 March 2026.
Madurai: RTI data obtained by activist S Karthik has revealed that only one case of caste killing was officially recorded in the last six years in seven districts of south Tamil Nadu, and he urged Justice K N Basha's commission to conduct statewide field studies and consult stakeholders to draft a caste killing law.

According to the RTI response, data provided by the additional superintendent of police (Headquarters) shows that between Jan 1, 2020, and Dec 31, 2025, only one case of caste killing was reported across Madurai, Theni, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai districts.
The solitary case was registered in 2021 at Emaneswaram police station in Ramanathapuram district. Police in the remaining six districts reported zero cases during the six-year period.
Karthik said the lack of official recognition of such crimes stems from the absence of a specific legal definition. He noted that while the Supreme Court had, in 2018, called for special laws to prevent caste-based crimes, the Tamil Nadu government has shown little progress over the past eight years.
In contrast, he pointed to neighbouring Karnataka, which recently enacted the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Honour and Tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Bill, 2026 on March 24.
He said the delay has also cast a shadow over the state-appointed commission. In October 2025, chief minister M K Stalin announced the formation of a committee headed by retired high court judge Justice K N Basha to draft a special law. The commission, comprising legal experts, progressive thinkers and anthropologists, was tasked with creating a robust legal framework. However, six months after its formation, allegations have surfaced that the committee has yet to meet even a single family affected by caste-based violence.
He urged the commission to move beyond administrative processes and conduct a statewide field study to gather testimonies from affected families, educators and civil society members.
He said there is a growing demand among the public that only through such a study and a formal feedback mechanism can changes be refined and a constructive draft law be formulated.

Detonators continue to top list of stolen explosives, shows RTI data : Written by, Ritu Sarin

The Indian Express: Article: Monday, 30 March 2026.
Information from PESO, both recent and past, reveals alarming levels of “missing” blasting caps, detonating cord and explosives.

Seized explosive material. (File Photo)

Magazines, or stores for explosives especially those located in Naxalism or terror-affected areas continue to be the target for audacious thefts, according to data received via a Right To Information (RTI) application filed with the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
Detonators, a small explosive device or blasting cap, continue to see the largest number of recorded thefts reported in thousands as per both current and past data.
Information received from PESO reveals that there has been a major theft of explosives from a magazine in Janjgir Champa, a district in Naxalism-affected Chhattisgarh, on August 6, 2023. It could be a coincidence, but just two months later, on October 3, 2023, the Government of India banned the manufacturing, possession and import of electric detonators in view of “security concerns and public safety.” Electric detonators, the government notification stated, are “dangerous” devices. The ban was announced in 2023, but was to be implemented fully only from April 2025.
PESO gave details of the stolen stockpile of explosives. In all, 1,829 detonators were stolen in three different categories from Janjgir Champa. Of these, 1,688 were of the “supreme AED” type; 116 listed as “instantaneous electric detonators” and 25 being short-delay detonators.
Besides the detonators, 110 kgs of Class 2 gel (Kelvix powder, an emulsion explosive) and 3,000 meters of detonating fuse were stolen from the magazine in Janjgir Champa. According to PESO, following the theft, an FIR was filed and a showcause notice issued after four weeks to the police and the District Magistrate.
As per the information, a significantly high number of detonators (also of Class 6 type, or super electric detonators) have been stolen from magazines and vans over a 10-year period in Uttar Pradesh. The PESO unit in Agra has provided data for 61,311 detonators being stolen, but without specifics of the dates of theft or location of the magazines. The PESO unit has also not clarified if the 61,311 detonators were stolen in one or several heists.
Earlier batches of data obtained by The Indian Express had also revealed a similar pattern – detonators topping the list of stolen explosive materials. A previous RTI application filed by The Indian Express revealed that in two years (2010 and 2011), as many as 2,18,624 detonators were stolen from magazines and vans in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
In addition to this, as much as 1,907 kg of ammonium nitrate-based explosives, 3,500 metres of detonating fuse and 16.58 tonnes of emulsion matrix (a key ingredient for making explosives) were stolen from across the country in these two years.
In October 2007, The Indian Express, in a series titled ‘The Ticking Time Bomb,’ had reported how PESO had received information about thousands of detonators, slurry explosives and fuses being stolen from government magazines. Back then, the police had managed to recover only a fraction of the stolen stockpiles.
Data accessed for the years 2004-2006 showed that the scale of theft was staggering: 86,899 detonators, 150 kg of slurry explosives, 52,740 meters of detonating fuse and 419 kg of gelatin sticks were looted from magazines and explosive vans.
The data then showed that the largest number of detonators (19,800) were stolen from Shankerpur in Madhya Pradesh, while the largest number of safety fuses (11,975) and the biggest volume of slurry explosives (19,700 kgs) were stolen from Dantewada in Chhattisgarh.
Presently, besides Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh, PESO offices at other places have claimed they have no information about any theft of explosives. Among those who have said that they had “nil” information are Dehradun, Prayagraj, Vadodara, Patna, Faridabad, Bhubaneswar, Ernakulam, Navi Mumbai, Secunderabad, Jaipur and Guwahati.
PESO officials in two cities cited other reasons for the “nil” information. The Controller of Explosives of Mangalore denied the data on grounds of it being too “massive.” The communication stated: “…this kind of massive data on so many variables and compilation of the same for a period of 10 years is beyond the scope of RTI Act.” The Joint Chief Controller of Explosives from Kolkata also did not supply the data saying it was “sensitive” in nature and was not being provided as per section 8 (dealing with exemptions from disclosure) of the RTI Act.

Delhi police spent ₹43.51 crore on VVIP vehicles, reveals RTI reply

The Hindu: New Delhi: Monday, 30 March 2026.
The Delhi police’s Security Wing spent ₹43.51 crore on hiring vehicles to provide protection to VVIPs between 2021 and 2025, the police department has stated in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by The Hindu.

The Security Wing spent ₹23.13 crore on hiring vehicles in
2022-23 in the run-up to the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

The Security Wing is a specialised unit responsible for providing security, protection, and escort services to VIPs and VVIPs including the Prime Minister, who falls under the Special Protection Group, various Chief Ministers and high-profile politicians, who receive Z+ security, and important dignitaries who visit the Capital.
The department’s reply shared data showing that the Security Wing spent ₹23.13 crore on hiring vehicles in the financial year 2022-23 in the run-up to the 18th G20 Summit hosted in New Delhi.
This was followed by an expenditure of ₹16.89 crore in the 2023-24, the year in which the country hosted the high-profile event, during which dignitaries from across the globe visited the Capital.
However, despite high spending in previous years, the Security Wing spent only ₹2.05 crore in 2024-25. Speaking to The Hindu, a senior official said the department’s spending changed after a large number of vehicles were purchased in 2023 in the run-up to the G20 Summit.
“A large number of vehicles were purchased, many of which were routed to the Delhi police’s Security Wing, and some were given to the district police. At present, most vehicles used by VVIPs are owned by the Delhi police,” the official said.
‘Records not traceable’
The department stated in its response that records of hiring vehicles from 2015 onwards were not “traceable” due to “shifting of the administrative branches/offices from Vinay Marg to the new building at Manas Marg, Chanakyapuri, during 2020-21”.
The RTI reply added that records up to March 2020 were “destroyed” in accordance with an official order dated July 19, 2024.

Complainant Has No Right To Be Heard In Penalty Proceedings Against SPIO U/S 20 RTI Act: Kerala High Court

Verdictum: Kerala: Monday, 30 March 2026.
The High Court held that penalty proceedings under Section 20 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, are between the Information Commission and the concerned Public Information Officer, and the complainant has no vested right to participate unless permitted.

The Kerala High Court has held that an appellant under the Right to Information Act, 2005, has no right to be heard in penalty proceedings initiated against a State Public Information Officer under Section 20(1) of the Act, and that such proceedings are essentially between the Information Commission and the concerned officer.
The Court was hearing a writ petition under Article 226 challenging the order of the State Information Commission dropping penalty proceedings initiated against the State Public Information Officer in connection with an RTI application.
A Bench of Justice Murali Purushothaman observed: “… the appearance of the ‘appellant’ before the State Information Commission is optional. Even if the appellant opts not to be present, the State Information Commission has to dispose of the appeal as per the provisions of the RTI Act. However, the RTI Act mandates that, before any penalty is imposed, the SPIO shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. The penalty proceeding under Section 20 of the Act is essentially a matter between the State Information Commission and the concerned SPIO. Therefore, the petitioner’s contention that the 3rd respondent was absolved of liability without furnishing her a copy of the explanation of the 3rd respondent and without affording an opportunity to rebut the same is untenable.
The petitioner has no right to be heard in the penalty proceedings under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, unless permitted by the State Information Commission”, the Bench Added
Advocate Vimal Vijay appeared for the petitioner, while Senior Government Pleader Surya Binoy represented the State and Standing Counsel M. Ajay appeared for the State Information Commission.
Background
The petitioner had submitted an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005, seeking information relating to the exclusion of her application from consideration in a Revenue Adalat under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008.
It was contended by the petitioner that no reply was furnished within the statutory period, compelling her to file a second appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act before the State Information Commission. The Commission, upon finding delay and alleged furnishing of misleading information, initiated penalty proceedings under Section 20(1) of the Act.
The petitioner contended that the Commission subsequently dropped the penalty proceedings without furnishing her a copy of the explanation submitted by the SPIO and without allowing her to rebut the same.
The respondents, on the other hand, contended that the SPIO had submitted an explanation attributing the delay to administrative reasons, including election-related duties and staffing issues, and that the Commission, upon considering the explanation, found no wilful default warranting imposition of a penalty.
Court’s Observation
The Court examined the scheme of Sections 19 and 20 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It noted that while Section 19 deals with appellate remedies and empowers the Commission to grant compensation to the complainant under Section 19(8)(b), Section 20 specifically governs the imposition of a penalty on the Public Information Officer.
The Court emphasised that under the first proviso to Section 20(1), the Act mandates that the SPIO must be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed. However, no such statutory right is conferred upon the appellant to participate in penalty proceedings.
Interpreting the procedural framework, the Court referred to Rule 7 of the Kerala State Information Commission (Procedure for Appeal) Rules, 2006, and observed that the presence of the appellant in appeal proceedings is optional and not mandatory.
The Court held: “Even if the appellant opts not to be present, the State Information Commission has to dispose of the appeal as per the provisions of the RTI Act.”
Distinguishing between compensation and penalty, the Court noted that while compensation is awarded to the complainant and may require adjudication of loss, penalty is imposed for statutory violations and is payable to the State exchequer.
The Court further held: “the penalty proceeding under Section 20 of the RTI Act is purely a matter between the… Commission and the… SPIO.”
Addressing the grievance of the petitioner, the Court held: “the petitioner’s contention that the 3rd respondent was absolved of liability without furnishing her a copy of the explanation… and without allowing rebutting the same is untenable.”
The Court also clarified that the opinion formed by the Commission at the stage of issuing a show cause notice is only prima facie, and that upon receiving a satisfactory explanation from the SPIO, the Commission is empowered to drop the penalty proceedings.
Conclusion The High Court held that the State Information Commission was justified in dropping the penalty proceedings after accepting the explanation of the SPIO and that no interference was warranted in the absence of any perversity or illegality.
Accordingly, the writ petition was dismissed.
Cause Title: Raisa Eapen v. State of Kerala & Ors. (Neutral Citation: 2026:KER:21070)
(Click here to read/download Judgment)

Several posts vacant at Minorities’ Welfare Dept.: RTI

The Hindu: Hyderabad: Monday, 30 March 2026.
More than 35% posts in the Minorities’ Welfare Department (MWD) remain vacant, a response obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has indicated.

Kareem Ansari from youRTI.in, a portal that facilitates users seeking information through the RTI Act, sought details on the sanctioned strength and the number of regular, contractual and outsourced employees.
According to the reply, there are 128 regular employees, 27 working on a contractual basis, and as many as 51 outsourced employees.
The data also show that at the Office of the Commissioner, Minorities’ Welfare, there are 62 sanctioned posts, of which 26 are vacant.
In districts, there are 136 sanctioned posts, of which 44 are vacant; six District Minority Welfare Officer (DMWO) posts, out of which two are vacant. The DMWO is responsible for implementing government schemes in the districts they are posted in, and for coordinating with the Minorities Welfare Department and its agencies.
“The RTI shows that there are 70 vacancies across posts impacting the work, and filling up vacancies and increasing expenditure will help,” Mr. Ansari, who filed the RTI application, said.
Recently, the Telangana government allocated ₹3,796 crore to the department. While this marks an increase, compared to the allocation of ₹3,585 crore in FY 2025-26, the government has faced criticism over inadequate spending.
Out of the total allocation, salaries, and other recurring administrative costs received ₹875 crore. The remaining, scheme allocation, saw an allocation of ₹2,893 crore.
The Students’ Islamic Organisation (SIO), which filed a petition in the Telangana High Court over pending fee reimbursement to students, said that meaningful progress lies not just in higher allocation but in efficient delivery. “Under-utilisation of funds have limited the impact on students,” SIO president Mohammed Faraz said.

RTI exposes delay in implementing SC guidelines on Nurses’ wages in J&K

Kashmir Vision: Pulwama: Sunday, 29 March 2026.
An RTI disclosure has brought to light significant delays in the implementation of guidelines concerning the pay structure and working conditions of nurses in private hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir, despite clear directives from the Supreme Court of India.

The information surfaced following a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by social activist Shahid Shafi Rather, who also serves as Media Coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA).
The RTI sought details regarding the progress of a committee constituted by the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department in 2023 to address the issue.
According to official records, the Jammu and Kashmir government had issued Government Order No. 1031-JK(HME) of 2023 on December 12, 2023, forming a committee tasked with drafting guidelines on wages and working conditions for nurses employed in private hospitals and nursing homes. The panel was mandated to submit its report within 30 days.
However, the RTI response reveals that while the committee was indeed constituted, the matter still remains under consideration, with no final recommendations or guidelines issued so far. Earlier official replies attributed the delay to the transfer and retirement of some committee members, necessitating reconstitution. Despite this, the process continues to remain incomplete, raising concerns over administrative inefficiency and lack of accountability.
The issue holds particular importance in light of the landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of India on January 29, 2016 (W.P. (C) No. 527/2011), which directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to address long-standing grievances of nurses working in private healthcare institutions. Subsequently, a high-level committee was constituted at the national level, and all States and Union Territories, including J&K, were expected to implement its recommendations.
On the ground, however, the situation remains largely unchanged. Nurses in private hospitals across the Union Territory reportedly continue to receive meagre salaries, often ranging between ₹7,000 and ₹10,000 per month, while also working under challenging and demanding conditions—far below the standards recommended at the national level.
Expressing concern over the delay, Shahid Shafi Rather said that repeated committee formations without tangible outcomes have failed to protect the rights and dignity of nurses.
“Despite the passage of several years and the formation of committees, no concrete steps have been taken. Thousands of nurses continue to suffer due to inaction,” he said.
He further urged the government, particularly Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo and the Chief Minister, to intervene and expedite the process.
“We request the government to issue interim guidelines at the earliest to ensure uniform standards in healthcare and proper implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions,” he added.
The RTI findings have once again highlighted the urgent need for policy intervention, as prolonged delays continue to deny justice to a vital segment of the healthcare workforce in Jammu and Kashmir.

उत्तराखण्ड : सूचना न देने पर सहायक नगर आयुक्त पर ₹10,000 का जुर्माना, विभागीय कार्रवाई की संस्तुति, डीएम पौड़ी को भी दिए निर्देश

Live SKG News: Dehradun: Sunday, 29 March 2026.
देहरादून/कोटद्वार: उत्तराखण्ड सूचना आयोग ने सूचना का अधिकार (RTI) अधिनियम के तहत सूचना उपलब्ध न कराने के मामले में कड़ा रुख अपनाते हुए नगर निगम कण्वनगरी, कोटद्वार के सहायक नगर आयुक्त एवं लोक सूचना अधिकारी चन्द्रशेखर शर्मा पर ₹10,000 का जुर्माना लगाया है। आयोग ने साथ ही उनके खिलाफ विभागीय कार्रवाई की भी संस्तुति की है।

यह आदेश मुख्य सूचना आयुक्त राधा रतूड़ी की अध्यक्षता में शिकायत संख्या 16648/2025-26 की सुनवाई के दौरान पारित किया गया। शिकायतकर्ता अंशुल चन्द्र बुडाकोटी ने आयोग में शिकायत दर्ज कर आरोप लगाया था कि उनके द्वारा मांगी गई सूचना समय पर और पूर्ण रूप से उपलब्ध नहीं कराई गई।
क्या है मामला
शिकायतकर्ता ने नगर निगम कोटद्वार से एक मृत्यु प्रमाण पत्र से संबंधित आपत्ति पर की गई कार्यवाही की जानकारी मांगी थी। आरोप है कि कई बार अनुरोध करने के बावजूद उन्हें स्पष्ट और पूर्ण सूचना नहीं दी गई। यहां तक कि आयोग के पूर्व आदेश (16 अक्टूबर 2025) के अनुपालन में भी सूचना अधूरी रही।
आयोग की सख्ती
सुनवाई के दौरान आयोग ने पाया कि लोक सूचना अधिकारी द्वारा सूचना देने में गंभीर लापरवाही बरती गई। आयोग ने पहले कारण बताओ नोटिस जारी किया था, लेकिन संतोषजनक जवाब न मिलने पर इसे अंतिम करते हुए ₹10,000 का दंड अधिरोपित किया गया।
आयोग ने अपने आदेश में कहा कि RTI अधिनियम के प्रति इस तरह की उदासीनता स्वीकार्य नहीं है और यह पारदर्शिता के सिद्धांतों के विपरीत है।
जिलाधिकारी को भी निर्देश
आयोग ने मामले में जिलाधिकारी, पौड़ी गढ़वाल को भी हस्तक्षेप करने के निर्देश दिए हैं। आयोग ने कहा है कि शिकायतकर्ता के आरोपों का संज्ञान लेकर संबंधित अधिकारी से स्पष्टीकरण लिया जाए और यदि अनियमितता पाई जाए तो नियमानुसार कार्रवाई की जाए।
वेतन से होगी वसूली
आदेश में स्पष्ट किया गया है कि यदि निर्धारित समय में जुर्माना जमा नहीं किया गया तो यह राशि संबंधित अधिकारी के वेतन/देयकों से काटकर राजकोष में जमा कराई जाएगी।
ई-चालान से जमा होगी राशि
जुर्माने की राशि राज्य सरकार के ई-चालान पोर्टल के माध्यम से “Right to Information Act 2005” शीर्ष के अंतर्गत जमा करनी होगी।

Why Gujarat is the only state where the public can’t watch proceedings in the Legislative Assembly live : Aditi Raja

The Indian Express: New Delhi: Saturday, 28 March 2026.
A PIL in the Gujarat High Court asking for a live telecast has been pending since 2020. The petitioners have referred to the standard practice in other states and invoked provisions of the Constitution. Here’s what the Assembly Secretariat has argued in response.

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat delivers the customary address
at the beginning of the Budget Session of the Assembly on
February 16, 2026. (Express Photo)

A scheduled hearing on a public interest petition seeking mandatory live telecast of proceedings in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly could not be taken up by the Gujarat High Court on Friday (March 27). The PIL has been pending in the court for six years now.
The Gujarat Assembly is the only one of the 30 state Assemblies in India that does not livestream its proceedings. (See how proceedings are shown to the public in other states below.) No videography or photography is allowed without authorisation in the Assembly.
Back in September 2023, after Gujarat adopted the National eVidhan Application (NeVA) that put the management of all legislative processes on a secure digital platform, Speaker Shankar Chaudhary had said that the Assembly was “thinking about” livestreaming proceedings, but he could not “say exactly when” that might happen.
“There is nothing from the government saying ‘don’t do this’, but there are some aspects,” the Speaker had told The Indian Express in an interview. “…I have already readied the [Assembly’s] YouTube [channel], and the website we have developed through NeVA, but there are some limitations…,” he had said.

Gujarat Legislative assembly in Gandhinagar under an overcast
sky leading to a sprinkle on Monday.
(Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

However, the Assembly Secretariat has been opposing the petition seeking live telecast of proceedings citing the privileges of the United Kingdom’s House of Commons and certain provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
The Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had demanded that proceedings of the Assembly be telecast live during the month-long Budget Session of the Gujarat Assembly that concluded on March 25, during which several important Bills including the adoption of a Uniform Civil Code, and an important amendment to the Disturbed Areas Act, were passed.
The Opposition Congress had made a similar demand last year.
The case before the Gujarat High Court
The PIL filed in 2020 asked the court to direct that proceedings in the Assembly be mandatorily telecast live, and that the text of all legislation, transcripts, and list of questions and answers be made available on the website of the Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act, as well as the obligations of the state under Articles 19(a) (freedom of speech and expression) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution.
The petitioners, social activists Neeta Hardikar and Dr Siddharth Jitendra Pathak, argued that the Legislative Assembly is obligated to update information on its website in Gujarati and English, like other Assemblies in the country do.
Reply of the Gujarat Assembly Secretariat
REFERENCE TO TRADITION IN THE UK: In April 2021, the Gujarat Assembly Secretariat submitted two affidavits opposing the PIL citing privileges similar to the House of Commons in the UK. Deputy Secretary Reeta Mehta submitted in the affidavit-in-reply on behalf of the Gujarat Assembly Secretariat that “there is no legal duty on part of the [Secretariat] to comply with the obligations (under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21 of the Constitution)… as the fundamental rights are not absolute in nature and are subject to reasonable restrictions.”
The affidavit-in-reply submitted that the history of Article 194 of the Constitution (“Powers, privileges, etc., of the House of Legislatures and of the members and committees thereof”) can be traced to “the privileges that are claimed by the House of Commons of Parliament in the United Kingdom at the commencement of the Constitution of lndia…”.
With a view to curtailing judicial interference in determining privileges, this provision was amended in 1976 to provide that the privileges of the House “shall be those that are evolved by the said House from time to time…”, but the same was amended in 1978 and “restored the position with respect to privileges as they existed prior to the 1976 Amendment”, the affidavit said.
“As a result, privileges of the House will be the same as the privileges claimed by the House of Commons…at the commencement of the Constitution (of India)… The House of Commons claims to control the publication of debates and proceedings. As a result thereof, the Hon’ble Apex court on various occasions has recognized that every House has the privilege to control or prohibit the publication of its proceedings…,” it said.
REFERENCE TO RTI ACT: On the contentions of the petition regarding the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005, the affidavit-in-reply submitted that Section 8 of the Act, which provides for “Exemption from Disclosure of Information”, “confers a discretion on the State Legislature as regards disclosure of information that breaches its privilege…”.
The reply said that “lt is settled law that each House is the sole judge to determine whether its privilege has been infringed and the decision…cannot be questioned by courts.”
Rejoinder filed by the petitioners: ‘It’s a right’
In a rejoinder to the affidavit-in-reply filed on July 31, 2021, the petitioners submitted that it was “not correct to submit that there is no legal duty on part (of the respondents) to comply with the obligations” prayed for in the petition.
“It is submitted that the Petitioner has prayed for the compliance of obligations under section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act only, and therefore the Respondent is under a legal obligation to comply with the legal duty,” it said.
The petitioner submitted that there is a “crucial difference” between the right to “publish”, as in the case of the press, and the right to “know”, as in the case of the petitioner and other citizens.
The affidavit stated: “The Petitioner is a citizen of India and the members of the legislative house are only her representatives who act on her behalf. The right of the petitioner in knowing the proceedings of the legislative house stems from the foundational values of representative democracy.”
The petitioner stated that the PIL “seeks compliance of statutory and constitutional duties on part of the Respondent and the same does not infringe the privilege of the House in any manner”.
Documents already in public domain, says Assembly
In an affidavit filed on September 30, 2021, then Deputy Secretary of the Gujarat Legislature Secretariat C B Pandya stated that the state Assembly had “uploaded all the public documents on the website of NeVa, a link of which has also been appended on the Home Page of its official website”, thus making them “available in the public domain”.
The affidavit also stated that “the privilege of the State Legislative Assembly is not merely to prohibit publication of proceedings by the press, but it empowers the Assembly to control the publication of the same as it deems fit”.
The affidavit reiterated that “different State Legislative Assemblies in the country have chosen different modes for publishing their proceedings”, as well as “the extent to which the same should be published”.
The affidavit submitted that all important proceedings of the day when the Assembly is in session are “telecast in form of a special program named ‘Lokshahi Na Dhabkara’ i.e., ‘Heartbeat of Democracy’ on all Regional Gujarati Channels such as DD Girnar every day at 06.30 pm, as well as on YouTube, lasting about half an hour”; the Budget Speech is telecast live on all regional Gujarati channels and on YouTube; and the text of the entire debate proceedings is available on the NeVA website.
The Secretariat also submitted that merely because the information has been disclosed on the “NeVA website instead of the official website of the State Legislative Assembly, does not in any manner discredit the same”. The affidavit denied the suggestion by the petitioners that the NeVA website was temporary and could be removed by the central government.
In all other states: Where the public can watch house proceedings
Andhra Pradesh: Sakshi TV live
Arunachal Pradesh: DD Arunprabha
Assam: NeVA
Bihar: NeVA
Chhattisgarh: DD Chhattisgarh
Delhi: NeVA
Goa: Prudent Media Goa
Haryana: NeVa
Himachal Pradesh: HP Vidhan Sabha channel (highlights)
J&K: The News Now
Jharkhand: NeVA
Karnataka: DD Chandana, YouTube
Kerala: Private TV channels
Madhya Pradesh: Private TV channels
Maharashtra: NeVA
Manipur: NeVA
Meghalaya: NeVA
Mizoram: YouTube
Nagaland: DD (highlights)
Odisha: NeVa
Punjab: NeVA
Rajasthan: NeVA
Sikkim: NeVA
Tamil Nadu: NeVA
Telangana: NeVA
Tripura: NeVA
Uttar Pradesh: NeVa
Uttarakhand: NeVA
West Bengal: Livestreamed sometimes

RTI Filed: Platforms missed SIM binding deadline, what is the action taken by DoT?

Media Nama: New Delhi: Saturday, 28 March 2026.

MediaNama has filed an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), seeking details on the compliance status of and enforcement actions against companies for non-compliance with the SIM binding directive issued on November 29, 2025.
What we asked:

• A complete list of all messaging applications, social media intermediaries, platforms, or other entities that had not complied with the SIM binding directive.
• The compliance status recorded by the DoT for each such platform, including whether compliance was partial, pending, disputed, or refused.
• Copies of all enforcement actions initiated or taken by the DoT against companies that failed to comply with the SIM binding directive, including issuance of notices, show-cause proceedings, warnings, directions, penalties, service restrictions, or any other regulatory actions.
• Copies of any internal notes, compliance tracking documents, review reports, or status assessments prepared by the DoT regarding implementation and enforcement of the SIM binding circular, which are not marked confidential and form part of the public record.
• Provide copies of all communications that the DoT exchanged with intermediaries or messaging platforms regarding compliance with the SIM binding circular, including emails, notices, advisories, show-cause notices, warnings, responses, representations, and any other non-confidential correspondence that forms part of the public record.

In addition to these, MediaNama also filed RTIs regarding consultations with stakeholders before or after issuing the SIM binding directive, and whether DoT consulted the Ministry of Law and Justice before issuing it.
Why we asked these questions:
SIM binding directive without prior notice: The DoT introduced the SIM binding directive under the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025, without any prior notice or public or stakeholder consultation. It remains unclear how SIM binding would address cyber fraud in India.
No implementation despite the deadline having passed: Nonetheless, unlike the Sanchar Saathi directive, the SIM binding directive remains in force, and none of the messaging platforms to which the DoT sent notices has implemented the SIM binding requirements, even though the 90-day compliance deadline expired on February 28, 2026.
WhatsApp and Arattai plan to implement SIM binding: In March 2026, MediaNama reported that Zoho’s messaging platform Arattai had not implemented SIM binding and did not have a timeline for rolling out the feature. Meanwhile, WhatsApp is reportedly developing features related to SIM binding requirements.
The DoT’s silence: If SIM binding is so important to curb digital fraud, why has the DoT not issued any statements or further notices regarding it, even though no platform has implemented it after the deadline passed? And, under the directive, why has DoT not taken any action against the companies for non-compliance?
Is DoT aware of the infeasibility of SIM binding? Questions about consultations with the tech industry are also important because, during MediaNama’s policy discussion on SIM binding, several experts highlighted the directive’s infeasibility.

• Is the DoT aware of the practical constraints associated with SIM binding?
• Did the DoT seek stakeholder feedback before or after issuing the SIM binding directive?
• If the stakeholder meetings ever took place, what did tech companies or other stakeholders tell DoT, and what did DoT incorporate in the final SIM binding directive, and what did it leave out?

We will update you when DoT responds to our RTIs.

Delhi govt directs all departments to ensure compliance with transparency norms under RTI Act

ET Legal World: New Delhi: Saturday, 28 March 2026.
A letter issued by the Administrative Reforms Department of the Delhi government on March 25 said it has received a representation on the failure of different departments to adhere to the transparency and accountability standards mandated under Section 4 of the RTI Act.

The Delhi government has flagged "persistent and systematic violations" of the Right to Information Act, 2005, by itsdepartments, and directed each office to ensure compliance with the transparency norms mandated under the law, officials said.
A letter issued by the Administrative Reforms Department of the Delhi government on March 25 said it has received a representation on the failure of different departments to adhere to the transparency and accountability standards mandated under Section 4 of the RTI Act.
The letter has been sent to all the principal secretaries, secretaries, heads of departments and heads of autonomous and local bodies, stating that since the matter concerns all the departments and offices, it is being issued to them for compliance.
Policy scholar Paras Tyagi from the Centre for Youth, Culture, Law and Environment (CYCLE), who submitted the representation, claimed that government departments have consistently failed to provide information under the RTI Act.
"In the last two years, we filed many PILs seeking information. Many times we received conflicting information from different departments on the same subject," Tyagi said, adding that public information, including landline office phone numbers, has not been updated on the websites in many cases.
Section 4 of the RTI Act mandates proactive disclosure of information by public authorities to ensure transparency and reduce the need for individual applications.
The letter was issued by the public information officer, with copies marked to the complainant and officials in the chief secretary's office.