Ministry Refuses to Disclose Project Ayla Agreements Under RTI Act, Citing Commercial Confidentiality

Howl. Link: Maldives: Thursday, 16 July 2026.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed at the press conference held in the President’s Office on March 29, 2026 | Photo: President’s Office

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has refused to release the core investment agreement and approval documents for the USD 790 million Project Ayla sustainable township development, citing commercial confidentiality provisions under Section 25 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The refusal was revealed in an official response to an RTI request submitted by MV+, which sought access to the full Investment Agreement, annexes, and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) approval documents executed between the government and the developer.
The ministry withheld the primary contracts in full, citing legal provisions intended to protect trade secrets and prevent potential “detrimental impact” on the financial interests of third parties.
According to the ministry’s response, the decision was made under Section 25 of the RTI Act, which provides exemptions from disclosure of certain categories of information.
The specific provisions cited by the ministry include:

• Section 25(a): Allows non-disclosure of confidential information containing trade secrets or information that could harm the business or financial interests of a third party.
• Section 25(b): Allows non-disclosure of information obtained through relations or agreements with foreign countries or international bodies where disclosure could adversely affect the Maldives’ relationship with them.
• Section 25(c): Allows non-disclosure of information held under an official state mandate relating to private agreements or transactions between individuals or companies if disclosure would reveal personal, financial, debt-related, or business secrets.

While the ministry refused to provide the foundational legal agreements behind Project Ayla, it provided details regarding the approved scope and permitted activities of the development.
Project Ayla, which covers Dhigufaru, Dhekenanfaru, and Kuramaadhoo Falhu in Noonu Atoll, was designated as an SEZ through a presidential decree issued on 31 December 2025, following an agreement between Crystal Holdings Private Limited and the Board of Investment.
According to the RTI response, the project has only been approved to undertake economic activities permitted under Article 70-1 of the SEZ Act, specifically for the development of a “Sustainable Township”.
The ministry also stated that it had not received any applications or expressions of interest for establishing offshore banks, trust services, insurance companies, finance leasing businesses, or money-changing operations within the SEZ.
It added that any financial or banking-related activities within the zone would require separate prior approval from the Board of Investments.
Addressing concerns regarding financial oversight and regulatory safeguards, the ministry stated that the Project Ayla application underwent the vetting process prescribed under the SEZ framework.
The ministry further said the project remains subject to the Maldives’ anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations.
Project Ayla is scheduled for completion in 2028, with plans to develop a reclaimed sustainable township featuring luxury residential units, a marina resort, an international healthcare facility and hospitality schools.
The project also has a target of meeting 60 per cent of its energy requirements through renewable energy sources.
However, the exact terms of the USD 790 million agreement between the state and the developer, including any concessions granted under the investment arrangement, will remain undisclosed following the ministry’s decision to apply the RTI exemptions.

सरकारी कर्मचारियों की आधिकारिक पहचान निजी जानकारी नहीं हो सकती: CIC

Navodaya Times: New Delhi: Thursday, 16 July 2026.

नई दिल्ली/ टीम डिजिटल। केंद्रीय सूचना आयोग (सीआईसी) ने कहा है कि आधिकारिक कर्तव्यों का निर्वहन कर रहे लोक सेवकों की पहचान को सूचना का अधिकार (आरटीआई) अधिनियम के तहत निजी जानकारी नहीं माना जा सकता। सीआईसी ने यह फैसला रेलवे को दो अलग-अलग मामलों में यात्रा टिकट परीक्षकों (टीटीई) के नाम और पदनाम सार्वजनिक करने का निर्देश देते हुए सुनाया। सूचना आयुक्त स्वागत दास ने उत्तर पश्चिम रेलवे और पश्चिम रेलवे के खिलाफ अलग-अलग सुनाए गए फैसलों में कहा कि रेलवे ने आधिकारिक दायित्वों का निर्वहन कर रहे टीटीई के नाम और पदनाम बताने से इनकार करने के लिए आरटीआई कानून की धारा 8(ए)(जे) के तहत हासिल छूट का गलत इस्तेमाल किया।
मामला उदयपुर एक्सप्रेस में तैनात एक टीटीई से जुड़ा हुआ था
इनमें से एक मामला उदयपुर एक्सप्रेस में तैनात एक टीटीई से जुड़ा हुआ था, जिसमें अपील करने वाले ने अधिकारी के नाम और पद के साथ-साथ उनसे जुड़ी शिकायतों, सतर्कता रिकॉर्ड, अनुशासनात्मक कार्यवाही और सेवा से जुड़ी अन्य जानकारियां मांगी थीं। वहीं, दूसरा मामला असरवा-जयपुर सुपरफास्ट एक्सप्रेस से संबंधित था, जिसमें अपीलकर्ता ने ड्यूटी पर तैनात टीटीई का नाम, कर्मचारी आईडी और पदनाम जानना चाहा था। दास ने दोनों ही मामलों में रेलवे की दलीलों को खारिज करते हुए कहा, "सार्वजनिक सेवा में अपने आधिकारिक दायित्वों का निर्वहन कर रहे किसी लोक सेवक की पहचान उसके सार्वजनिक कार्यों के निर्वहन से जुड़ी जानकारी होती है और इसे आरटीआई कानून की धारा 8(1)(जे) के तहत छूट प्राप्त 'व्यक्तिगत जानकारी' नहीं माना जा सकता।"
सीआईसी ने कहा कि लोक सेवकों में पारदर्शिता और जवाबदेही सुनिश्चित करना आरटीआई कानून के प्रमुख उद्देश्यों में शामिल है। उसने कहा कि ऐसी बुनियादी जानकारी देने से इनकार करना कानून के मूल उद्देश्य को विफल कर देगा और सरकारी कामकाज में पारदर्शिता की कमी को बढ़ावा देगा। आयोग ने संबंधित सीपीआईओ को निर्देश दिया कि वे संबंधित टीटीई के नाम और पद से जुड़ी जानकारियां उपलब्ध कराएं।

CIC flags lack of OCI admission records of DU foreign students, recommends proactive disclosure

The Print: New Delhi: Thursday, 16 July 2026.
The Central Information Commission has flagged the non-maintenance of records relating to foreign students admitted through OCI cards as a matter of concern for all international students and recommended that the University of Delhi proactively disclose such information to promote transparency.

Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi made the observation while deciding an RTI appeal seeking data on foreign student admissions over the last five years, including the number of admitted students holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards and whether they had applied as foreign nationals or as Indian citizens using OCI benefits.
During the hearing, Delhi University informed the Central Information Commission (CIC) that while it maintains statistics on foreign student admissions, it does not maintain separate records of students admitted using OCI or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards.
The university said foreign applicants had been admitted on the basis of their foreign passports and, therefore, no separate data was maintained for OCI/PIO card holders.
The Commission accepted the university’s submission, observing that under the RTI Act, a public authority can only provide information available on its records and is not required to create or compile information that does not exist.
It also referred to a Delhi High Court judgement holding that public authorities are under no obligation to create information in response to RTI applications.
However, the CIC observed that the “non-maintenance of records of foreign students admitted through OCI cards despite being a part of records of Delhi University is a matter of concern for all the foreign students” and warranted action in the larger public interest. The Commission, invoking Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, recommended that Delhi University maintain information on foreign students admitted through OCI cards and place it in the public domain through proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the Act.
It said making such information available on the university’s website would improve transparency and reduce the need for citizens to seek it through RTI applications. PTI MHS PRK
(This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.)

The real cost of an absent information commission : Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

The Daily Star: Bangladesh: Thursday, 16 July 2026.

FILE VISUAL: SHAIKH SULTANA JAHAN BADHON

It may sound like a broken gramophone record for us to continue lamenting the absence of the chief information commissioner and two information commissioners in Bangladesh since September 2024, following the political transition after the July uprising. We make no apology for doing so. Their absence has rendered the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009 largely ineffective, depriving citizens of one of the most important legal instruments for promoting transparency and accountability. We persist because we believe the RTI Act has enormous potential to strengthen democracy by enabling citizens to play a meaningful role in promoting transparent, accountable and responsive governance. That potential makes the present vacancies all the more troubling.
Almost two years have passed since the posts became vacant. Neither the interim government, which remained in office for about 18 months, nor the government popularly elected nearly five months ago has completed the appointments. Reports suggest that both governments have, at different times, initiated the process. The current government reportedly formed a five-member selection committee on July 9 to appoint the chief information commissioner and information commissioners. Still, we must wonder why it has taken so long to take this step to fill the positions that are indispensable to implementing the RTI Act.Does this reflect a diminished commitment to transparency and accountability, or merely administrative inertia? Whatever the explanation may be, the consequence is the same: a law enacted to empower citizens has been left without the institutional leadership necessary to make it work. The people have the right to know why, because the consequences are serious, though not immediately visible.
Unlike a power outage or disruption to public transport, the weakening of an oversight institution produces no instant crisis. Instead, transparency gradually erodes, accountability weakens, and citizens lose an effective means of seeking redress. To appreciate what is at stake, it’s worth recalling what the RTI Act and the Information Commission, although often very weak, have already achieved. They will also help us understand what to expect.
One of the best known examples is the BGMEA Tower in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel area. While many remember the building’s eventual demolition, few know that RTI played a crucial role. The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) sought information from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) about construction approvals. When the information was withheld, the Information Commission ordered its disclosure. The released documents exposed irregularities and strengthened efforts to protect one of the capital’s most valuable wetlands. The case demonstrated that public authorities can be required to explain their decisions and that citizens have a lawful means of demanding accountability.
RTI has proven equally valuable in addressing local environmental concerns. In Nilphamari, residents concerned about pollution of the Burikhora River allegedly caused by a nearby ceramic tile factory submitted RTI applications to the Department of Environment. The applications prompted inspections, warning notices, and measures to ensure that the factory’s effluent treatment plant was functioning properly. Follow-up RTI requests enabled citizens to monitor implementation, illustrating how access to information can encourage timely administrative action before environmental damage becomes irreversible.
The RTI law’s impact extends well beyond environmental protection. At Nilphamari general hospital, RTI applications seeking information on patient privacy and staffing led to the installation of privacy screens for women undergoing ultrasound examinations and to greater transparency regarding service responsibilities, including gender sensitivity.  At Panchagarh railway station, an RTI application prompted the restoration of a long-defunct drinking water facility within weeks. In the same district, citizens investigating the distribution of agricultural inputs in Debiganj upazila insisted that officials provide information through the legal procedures prescribed by the law, reinforcing the principle that access to public information is a legal right, not an administrative favour.
These examples may appear modest individually, but together they demonstrate the transformative power of transparency. RTI has improved public services, strengthened environmental governance, and enabled citizens to participate directly in improving local administration. It has also been used to examine school management, development projects, local government expenditure, public resource allocation, and the delivery of essential services. Information obtained through the RTI Act has enabled communities to identify shortcomings and press for corrective action. Good governance is built not only through major reforms but also through thousands of everyday acts of accountability.
This is especially important in Bangladesh, where ordinary citizens often have limited opportunities to influence public institutions. RTI gives them a peaceful and lawful means of engagement. It enables farmers, parents, patients, and local communities to question public authorities and demand better services. Many young Bangladeshis aspire to build stronger public institutions; RTI offers one of the most practical ways of doing so by encouraging constructive citizen participation rather than confrontation.
However, the system functions only when there is an independent institution capable of enforcing the law. When public authorities fail to disclose information, citizens need an impartial body to hear appeals, investigate complaints, and order compliance. The central ask is clear: appoint the Information Commission so that it can do this work. An RTI law without a functioning Information Commission is like a court system without judges. Rights may remain on paper, but citizens are left without an effective remedy. Every day without commissioners weakens the implementation of the law. Appeals remain unresolved, complaints cannot be adjudicated, and public authorities receive the unfortunate message that non-compliance may carry no consequences.
The vacancies at the Information Commission are more than empty chairs. They represent a growing silence in which citizens should be able to seek answers, challenge arbitrary decisions, and hold public institutions accountable. Restoring the Information Commission is therefore not merely an administrative task but an urgent step towards reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and democratic governance.

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Dr Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz are chairman and assistant director (RTI), respectively, at Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB). They can be reached at rib@citech-bd.com

RTI Chief Commissioner denied entry into Guntur police station during surprise inspection

The Hindu: Amaravati: Thursday, 16 July 2026.
Following the refusal, the CIC returned without inspecting the police station; he later continued his scheduled inspection by visiting the nearby MPDO offices

A surprise inspection by Andhra Pradesh Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Vajja Srinivasa Rao at Medikonduru Police Station in Guntur district has sparked controversy after police personnel allegedly denied him entry while he was reviewing the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
According to official sources, the CIC visited the police station on Monday (July 13, 2026) as part of a statewide inspection drive to assess compliance with RTI provisions in government offices. However, the Sub-Inspector and Circle Inspector reportedly stopped him at the entrance, stating that he could enter the premises only after obtaining permission from the district Superintendent of Police (SP).
Following the refusal, the CIC returned without inspecting the police station. He later continued his scheduled inspection by visiting the nearby Mandal Tahasildar and Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) offices.
The development assumes significance as the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission has just concluded a two-day statewide inspection covering 258 government offices across 18 districts to evaluate the implementation of the RTI Act at the field level.
The inspection teams, led by Mr. Vajja Srinivasa Rao and Information Commissioners Rehana Begum, Chavali Sunil, P. Simhachalam Naidu, Vonteru Ravi Babu, Gajula Adenna and V.S.C.K. Chakravarthy, examined whether Public Information Officers (PIOs) and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) were maintaining mandatory records and displaying statutory information boards required under the Act.
During a review meeting held at the State Information Commission office in Mangalagiri on Tuesday evening, the Commission found widespread violations of Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act. It identified deficiencies in maintaining mandatory records, displaying details of PIOs and FAAs, Annexures I and II, and citizen service information boards. Show-cause notices were issued to 162 Public Information Officers for non-compliance. The Commission also observed that RTI norms were largely absent in village and ward secretariats.
The Commission has treated the Medikonduru PS entry denial incident seriously, particularly as the CIC was carrying out a statutory inspection. The Commission decided to initiate all appropriate action to ensure the officer obeys the law. Mr. Srinivasa Rao, when asked about the denial at Medikonduru, said that once the police officials blocked the entry into the PS by standing at the gate, he returned without any further argument with the personnel.
The Commission is also expected to submit a detailed report on its statewide inspections to the Governor and the State Government, recommending measures for stricter implementation of the RTI Act across all government departments.

Governor urged to strengthen Information Commission by initiating action against erring officials

The Hindu: Belagavi: Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
Belagavi-based RTI activist complains to Governor saying that they are weakening the Right to Information Act by not enforcing it properly

RTI activist Bheemappa Gadad speaking to reporters in Belagavi on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Belagavi-based RTI activist Bheemappa Gadad has complained to the Governor against Information Commissioners saying that they are weakening the Right to Information Act by not enforcing it properly.
“I have complained to the Governor against the Information Commissioners in the State. The Governor should take immediate action on the serious allegations made against the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners of the State Information Commission. If there is no action, then, I will be constrained to resort to legal action,” Mr. Gadad said.
He told reporters in Belagavi on Tuesday that along with him, several activists and members of various organisations have also written to the State government against the Information Commissioners.
“We submitted all necessary documents to the Chief Secretary earlier but, there has been no action. Then, we wrote to the Governor. However, there has been no action against them till now,” he said.
“If the allegations are not investigated immediately, then, we will be forced to take up legal action,” Mr. Gadad said.
“As the Constitutional head of the State, the Governor should protect all Constitutional and government institutions. He should take up the responsibility of strengthening the State Information Commission by initiating action against erring officials,” he said.
Mr. Gadad also said that the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners has not been properly carried out.
“The State government has violated a Supreme Court directive about the appointment process. It calls for constitution of a search committee before the appointment. But that was not done. A case has been registered in the High Court against this. The Information Commissioners have been saying that they will blacklist activists who file more than 25 applications. This is not backed by law. The Information Commissioners are summarily rejecting some applications giving trivial reasons. This is not acceptable,” he said.

Puducherry: Road ‘corruption’ file goes missing, CIC flags delay in probe as attempt to cover tracks

The Print: New Delhi: Wednesday, 15 July 2026.

The vanishing of a book on alleged road corruption and a yearlong delay in starting a probe into its disappearance has prompted the Central Information Commission (CIC) to observe that the delay was “cultivated” to allow interested parties to cover their tracks and it “cannot lightly be dismissed.” Information Commissioner P R Ramesh pulled up the Yanam Municipality in Puducherry over the disappearance of M-Book No 667, an official engineering record relating to a road project which alleged Rs 8 lakh in corruption.
Calling the episode “not mere administrative lapse, but a pattern of institutional apathy that strikes at the very root of public accountability,” the commission directed the municipality to complete a time-bound inquiry, identify the officials responsible for the missing record, explain the delay in initiating the probe and disclose the inquiry report under the RTI Act.
The case reached the commission after an RTI applicant sought details about the whereabouts of M-Book No 667, the official responsible for its custody and whether a police complaint had been lodged.
According to the municipality, the then assistant engineer handed over a list of M-Books in July 2023, but three of them, including M-Book No 667, were found missing during verification.
Officials initially believed the record had been sent to the Department of Accounts and Treasuries (DAT) for processing work bills, but its whereabouts could not be established.
After repeated efforts to trace the document failed, a police complaint was lodged in February 2025. However, a departmental inquiry committee was constituted only in February 2026.
During the hearing, the appellant alleged the missing M-Book was a crucial piece of evidence that may have been intentionally destroyed to shield those responsible.
The municipality, on the other hand, informed the commission that a police complaint had been filed and a departmental inquiry was underway.
The commission noted that the Yanam Police, in its report dated March 11, 2025, concluded that M-Books were required to be maintained and handed over by authorised officials and that the failure to do so reflected negligence on the part of those responsible for their custody.
Yet, despite the police findings, the municipality waited more than a year before constituting an inquiry committee.
“This commission finds this hiatus of over twelve months neither explained nor explicable,” the order said, adding that prompt administrative action should ordinarily have followed to fix accountability and ascertain what had become of a record concerning the award of government contracts.
Observing that the disappearance of such a document was “not a matter of clerical inconvenience”, the commission said it directly impaired citizens’ right to know how public money was spent and contracts were awarded.
“Where such a document goes missing and the administrative response is one of prolonged silence, the inference of mala fides becomes difficult to resist, and the suspicion that the delay itself was cultivated to allow interested parties to cover their tracks cannot lightly be dismissed,” it said.
The CIC directed the inquiry committee to complete its probe in a time-bound manner, and disclose the identity of the officials in whose custody the record was last traceable.
It also asked it to explain the delay through a reasoned affidavit and share the final report with the appellant while proactively publishing it under Section 4 of the RTI Act. PTI MHS VN VN
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

CIC Directs Ministry to Provide Complete RTI Response on Petrol, Ethanol Blending Data

The Wire: New Delhi: Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
Information Commissioner Khushwant Singh Sethi ordered the ministry's planning arm to email historical data on petrol production and imports, ethanol procurement and blending, and profit-related information to the applicant. 

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the Union petroleum ministry to provide additional information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act after finding that the body had not fully responded to an application on India’s petrol and ethanol programme.
Information Commissioner Khushwant Singh Sethi ordered PPAC to email historical data on petrol production and imports, ethanol procurement and blending, and profit-related information to the applicant, News18 reported.
The commission also instructed the agency to provide direct links to notifications on ethanol blending, transfer queries on ethanol suppliers to the relevant authorities and issue a fresh response on company-wise petrol supplier information in accordance with the RTI Act.
Six categories of information sought from the ministry
The RTI application sought six categories of information fuel production and imports, ethanol blending rules, procurement and use of ethanol, supplier details and profits from petrol sales.
During the hearing, the commission observed that PPAC had supplied only part of the information requested and asked it to revise its replies on several points.
The applicant had sought year-wise data from 2014-15 on petrol production, imports, purchases, expenditure and a source-wise break-up, News18 reported. PPAC informed that this information was available on its website but declined to disclose company-specific information, citing Sections 8(1)(d) and 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act. After the applicant said the information was not readily accessible online, the commission directed PPAC to send the available historical data by email.
On ethanol blending, PPAC said the programme run according to the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and that relevant notifications are available on the ministry’s website. The CIC then directed the agency to provide links to the relevant notifications and orders, the report said.
The applicant also sought year-wise details of ethanol procured and consumed for blending. PPAC said the information was contained in its monthly Snapshot of India’s Oil & Gas report. The commission instructed it to email the historical data.
For information on ethanol suppliers, including the quantities supplied and agreements with oil marketing companies, PPAC said it did not maintain the records. The CIC directed it to transfer that part of the application to the concerned public authority.
The applicant had also requested company-wise details of petrol suppliers, their share in total supply and copies of supply agreements. PPAC declined to disclose the information on grounds of commercial confidentiality. The commission directed the agency to issue a fresh reply while invoking the relevant provisions of the RTI Act.
On the final query seeking annual profits from petrol sales, profit margins and the method used to calculate them, PPAC referred the applicant to information on taxes collected by the Centre and the states. The CIC directed the agency to email all historical information available with it on the subject.
This article went live on July fourteenth, two thousand twenty six, at twenty-two minutes past twelve at noon.

No RTI reply after 2 years, Punjab info panel issues bailable warrant against Kapurthala XEN

The Times of India: Chandigarh: Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
The Punjab State Information Commission has issued a bailable warrant against the public information officer (PIO) of Kapurthala municipal corporation after he failed to appear before it despite a show-cause notice and specific directions to attend a hearing in person in a Right to Information (RTI) Act case.

The order was passed by state information commissioner Pooja Gupta while hearing a second appeal filed by a Kapurthala resident seeking information from the civic body.
According to the commission's order, the appellant had filed an RTI application on Sept 11, 2023, seeking certain information from the corporation. During the hearing, he submitted that despite more than two years having elapsed, he had neither received a reply nor the information sought under the RTI Act. He urged the commission to direct the respondent PIO, an executive engineer (XEN) with the civic body, to comply with the law.
The commission noted that the PIO sought an adjournment through an email dated July 6, citing duty in connection with the municipal corporation's first House meeting-cum-oath ceremony on July 8.
It further observed that the officer had also failed to appear despite a show-cause notice issued through its May 12 order, which specifically directed him to appear before the commission in Chandigarh with a written reply to the RTI application. Despite being warned of coercive action, the officer remained absent, the order said.
Taking note of his absence, the commission issued a bailable warrant to secure the PIO's presence at the next hearing on Oct 7. It also directed him to comply with its May 12 order without delay.
The commission further observed that its earlier directions requiring the municipal corporation to prominently display the names, designations and contact details of the PIO and the first appellate authority in its offices had not been complied with.
It also directed that a copy of the order be forwarded to the Punjab director, local govt, with instructions to ensure compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act across all offices under the department's administrative control.

Geology & Mining Department designates officers under RTI Act 2005

Nagaland Tribune: Kohima: Wednesday, 15 July 2026.

The Department of Geology & Mining, Government of Nagaland, has notified the reconstitution and designation of officers as the Appellate Authority (AA), Public Information Officer (PIO) and Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) for performing functions under Sections 5 and 19 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, in respect of the department.
The order supersedes the department’s earlier notification No. GM-19/GEN-25/2006/241 dated November 27, 2025.
As per the notification, John Kevi Angami, Commissioner & Secretary, has been designated as the Appellate Authority (AA); Yanithung N. Ngullie, Under Secretary, as the Public Information Officer (PIO); and Dopong Ngaku, Section Officer, as the Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO).

Public Information Officer Must Get Reasonable Opportunity to Explain Delay Before RTI Penalty Is Imposed: Allahabad High Court

Court Book: Lucknow: Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
The Allahabad High Court quashed a ₹25,000 RTI penalty against a Public Information Officer, holding that the State Information Commission violated Section 20(1) by imposing the fine without notice or hearing. - Amarnath v. State Information Commission U.P. Lucknow Through Chief Information Commissioner and Another

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has quashed a ₹25,000 penalty imposed by the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission on a Block Education Officer serving as a Public Information Officer (PIO), holding that the Commission failed to follow the mandatory procedure under Section 20(1) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The Court held that before imposing a penalty, the PIO must be given a reasonable opportunity of hearing and allowed to explain the circumstances leading to the alleged delay.
Background of the Case
Amarnath, a Block Education Officer and Public Information Officer, approached the High Court challenging the State Information Commission's order dated September 6, 2023, imposing the maximum penalty of ₹25,000 under Section 20 of the RTI Act. He also challenged the order dated February 22, 2024, by which the Commission dismissed his review application.
The petitioner contended that the delay in furnishing information occurred due to lapses by subordinate staff and other administrative reasons. He further stated that the requested information had ultimately been supplied to the RTI applicant on January 12, 2024. Most importantly, he argued that the penalty was imposed without any notice, show-cause proceedings, or opportunity to explain his position.
Court's Observations
After examining Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, the Division Bench of Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary observed that the Information Commission can impose a penalty only after forming an opinion, based on material available on record, that the Public Information Officer acted without reasonable cause.
The Court explained that the second proviso to Section 20(1) places the burden on the PIO to prove that he acted reasonably and diligently. However, this statutory burden can arise only when the officer is first given an opportunity to submit documents, explanations and other material in his defence. The first proviso further requires the Commission to provide a reasonable opportunity of hearing before imposing any penalty.
Referring to the facts of the case,
the Bench observed, "The whole mechanism for imposition of penalty to the petitioner has been given a complete go by in the present case."
It noted that neither a show-cause notice nor an opportunity to file a reply or participate in a hearing had been provided before the penalty was imposed. The Court also relied on Supreme Court decisions, including State of Orissa v. Dr. (Miss) Binapani Dei and Manohar v. State of Maharashtra, reiterating that administrative decisions resulting in civil consequences must comply with the principles of natural justice.
Decision
Holding that the mandatory safeguards under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act had not been followed, the High Court declared the penalty order dated September 6, 2023, legally unsustainable and quashed it for violating the principles of natural justice.
The Court further observed that once the original penalty order was set aside, the order rejecting the review application lost its significance. For the sake of clarity, it also quashed the review order dated February 22, 2024. The writ petition was accordingly allowed, with no order as to costs.
Case Details:
Case Title: Amarnath v. State Information Commission U.P. Lucknow Through Chief Information Commissioner and Another
Case Number: Writ – C No. 4718 of 2026
Judge: Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary
Decision Date: 6 July 2026
(Download Order)

KUWJ urges DGP to crack down on fake journalists,RTI blackmailers : Pramesh S Jain

Country and Politics: Karnataka: Tuesday, 14 July 2026.

A delegation of the Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) met Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police,Dr.M.A.Saleem and urged the police department to initiate stringent legal action against fake journalists and individuals allegedly misusing the Right to Information (RTI) Act for blackmail and extortion.
Delegation Led by KUWJ State President,Shivananda Tagadur,expressed concern over the increasing number of people with no connection to the journalism profession allegedly posing as journalists by using visiting cards and the names of media organisations to threaten and extort money from the public and government officials.
The union said such individuals,who neither have the credentials to report news nor any affiliation with recognised media organisations,are tarnishing the reputation of genuine journalists and undermining the credibility of the profession.
The delegation also urged the police to closely monitor those who frequently lodge complaints at police stations in the name of press organisations and allegedly misuse RTI applications for blackmail and harassment.
Responding to the memorandum, DGP,M.A.Saleem assured the delegation that the matter would be examined and appropriate action would be taken.

Repeated RTIs on Same Issues to Be Disallowed

Deccan Chronicle: Andhra Pradesh: Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
The commissioner reviewed the RTI implementations at Kakinada municipal corporation here on Monday.

The Right to Information (RTI) Commissioner VSK Chakravarthi has said that "prohibitory orders are being issued" against individuals repeatedly filing petitions on the same issue.
He said the commission has taken note of instances where petitions regarding the same issues were filed repeatedly, inquiries into such matters have been conducted and prohibitory orders issued against certain individuals where necessary.
The commissioner reviewed the RTI implementations at Kakinada municipal corporation here on Monday. The panel is currently considering some RTI applications. These would be examined in a lawful and fair manner and appropriate action taken.
He said that the public information officers (PIO) and appellate authorities should act responsibly so as to effectively implement the RTI Act at the grassroots levels. He observed the maintenance of records related to the RTI Act and the information maintained under Section 4 (1)(b), managed by the PIOs and AAs of various departments in the KMC and observed that many of the petitioners are seeking information regarding Town Planning and Engineering wings.
The commissioner exhorted the KMC officials to provide complete and comprehensive information within the statutory timeframe. If an applicant seeks information in Telugu, it should be provided in the same language. “Rejecting a request solely because the information is available only in English is not justifiable.”
He said that if the information requested in an application appears unclear, officials should not wait until the deadline expires. Instead, they should immediately contact the applicant to obtain the necessary details and provide assistance.
Rejecting an application on the final day citing ambiguity runs counter to the spirit of the law and could lead to an increase in first and second appeals, he said.
KMC commissioner NVV Satyanarayana, additional commissioner KT Sudhakar, deputy commissioner K Srinivas, SE P Venkatrao, health officer Pridhwi Charan and others were present.

Central Information Commission directs IIT-M to disclose utilisation of grant-in-aid funds

The Hindu: Dehradun: Monday, 13 July 2026.
It gave the direction on a petition filed by Ananya Dubey, who sought details of the grant-in-aid received by the institute in the previous three financial years, along with project-wise utilisation of the funds, copies of utilisation certificates, and the names of collaborations 

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) to provide a detailed, project-wise breakdown of the utilisation of grant-in-aid funds for the financial year 2023-24 sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
The direction came on a petition filed by Ananya Dubey, who sought details of the grant-in-aid received by the institute over the previous three financial years, along with project-wise utilisation of the funds, copies of utilisation certificates, and the names of collaborations that IIT-M entered into.
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) initially declined the request, arguing that the information sought for three years was voluminous and retrieving and compiling it would disproportionately divert the institute’s resources. The applicant was asked to narrow the scope of her request by specifying the period and information required. Following this, Ms. Dubey restricted her request to the fiscal 2023-24.
The CPIO informed her that IIT-M had received ₹537 crore towards sponsored research projects and ₹241 crore for industry research projects during the period. The reply stated that the funds had been utilised in accordance with the sanction orders or agreements of the sponsoring agencies. However, the CPIO said copies of utilisation certificates could not be disclosed without the concurrence of the respective sponsoring agencies, while information relating to collaborations was not readily available.
Contending that the institute had failed to furnish the project-wise utilisation details of the grant-in-aid, Ms. Dubey approached the CIC. During the hearing, the CPIO submitted that IIT-M had handled more than 1,000 projects during the relevant period, some of which were yet to attain finality, and any unutilised funds, wherever applicable, would have to be returned to the government. He also argued that project-wise fund utilisation details and related agreements contained third-party personal information which was exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the Act.
Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi noted that the request for information on the utilisation of grant-in-aid funds had not been addressed adequately. Recording the CPIO’s willingness to revisit the matter, she directed the officer to issue a revised, categorical reply to the petitioner, addressing in particular her request for the utilisation details of the grant-in-aid funds for 2023-24.

CIC grants ex-Rohini jail superintendent partial relief in Sukesh Chandrasekhar case

The Print: Dehradun: Monday, 13 July 2026.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has granted partial relief to former Rohini jail superintendent Sunil Kumar, who claimed he was implicated in a criminal case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.

The CIC directed Delhi Prisons to disclose select records he sought under the RTI Act to defend himself.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities during the incarceration of Chandrasekhar.
Kumar, who is among the prison officials charged by Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in the alleged Rs 200-crore extortion case involving Chandrasekhar, had filed 10 RTI applications seeking prison records related to the latter’s stay in Rohini Jail between 2020 and 2021.
The information sought included jail entry and exit registers, inspection reports of visiting judges, lodging records, CCTV installation and surveillance records, details of vacant barracks, search reports and records relating to Chandrasekhar’s transfer and stay in the prison.
In one of the RTI applications, Kumar said the documents were required “to defend the case properly”.
The records sought by Kumar are closely related to the allegations levelled against him by the EOW.
The agency alleged that Chandrasekhar was provided an exclusive barrack in Rohini jail in violation of prison rules, enjoyed unrestricted access to mobile phones and other prohibited items, and was able to operate an extortion racket from inside the prison with the connivance of jail officials who allegedly accepted bribes.
It also alleged that opaque curtains were installed in the superintendent’s chamber to shield Chandrasekhar’s activities from CCTV cameras and prison staff were strategically deployed around his barrack to facilitate his activities.
During the hearing before the commission, Kumar submitted that he had been implicated in the criminal proceedings alleging violations of prison rules while serving as superintendent of the jail and the requested records were necessary for his defence.
The CIC observed that the RTI applications were “largely raised based on his impleadment in criminal proceedings arising from allegations that he violated prison rules and committed irregularities while handling/seizing a particular article of an inmate.” Information Commissioner Anandi Ramalingam directed prison authorities to provide Kumar with his own entry and exit records from the jail after redacting third-party personal information and security-sensitive details.
The CIC also ordered disclosure of the date on which prison authorities took possession of newly installed CCTV cameras in 2020, holding that the respondents had failed to satisfactorily justify withholding that information.
It further directed the authorities to issue a revised reply on Kumar’s request for the total number of vacant barracks during the relevant period, observing that the CPIO had not cited any specific exemption under Section 8 of the RTI Act while denying the information. If no exemption applied, the information should be disclosed, the commission said.
In another appeal concerning CCTV surveillance records, the CIC directed the respondent to issue a revised reply in line with the First Appellate Authority’s earlier directions and explain why those directions had not been complied with despite nearly a year having elapsed.
The commission, however, rejected Kumar’s remaining appeals, holding that prison authorities had rightly invoked exemptions under Sections 8(1)(g) and 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act in matters involving prison security and third-party information.
“It may not be out of place to mention that law legitimately protects personal information or identities under Section 8, therefore, in case the information sought involves names of individuals, or personal details of individuals disclosure of which may affect their physical safety, the exemption clauses under Section 8(1)(g) and (j) of the RTI Act may be rightly invoked,” the Commission said.
Kumar also sought register entries relating to a wristwatch worn by Sukesh Chandrasekhar when he was shifted to Rohini Jail in 2020. The CIC declined his request for the watch’s entry date, saying it was not part of the original RTI application. The wristwatch has separately figured in a prison inquiry. PTI
(This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.)

VIP hospitality at Kedarnath under scanner as probe confirms financial irregularities : RTI

New Indian Express: Dehradun: Monday, 13 July 2026.
According to the RTI documents, around Rs 60,000 was shown as expenditure in the name of BJP state secretary Neha Joshi, while more than Rs 37,000 was linked to Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal.

A view of the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Temple adorned with flowers in Rudraprayag.(Photo | ANI, FILE)

A probe into expenditure on the accommodation and meals of VIP visitors at Kedarnath has confirmed financial irregularities, prompting the Uttarakhand government to order action against the officials and employees found responsible.
The inquiry was instituted by the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) after documents obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act raised questions over the alleged use of temple funds for VIP hospitality.
Confirming the findings, BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi told TNIE, "The investigation has been completed and its findings have been submitted to the state government. The government has directed action against the officials responsible."
According to the RTI documents, around Rs 60,000 was shown as expenditure in the name of BJP state secretary Neha Joshi, while more than Rs 37,000 was linked to Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal.
The expenses reportedly related to accommodation and meals during visits to the Himalayan shrine. Both leaders denied the allegations and maintained that they had personally paid for their expenses.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has accused the authorities of misusing donations and offerings made by devotees.
As the controversy intensified, Dwivedi constituted a four-member committee to examine bills, records and payment procedures linked to the alleged hospitality expenses.
The inquiry found that, in some cases, bills for the accommodation and meals of VIP guests had been paid by the temple committee. It also found that prescribed financial rules were not fully followed while processing the payments.
In a letter dated June 25, 2026, Deputy Secretary Anil Kumar Pandey directed the BKTC chief executive officer to initiate action in accordance with the rules.
"Prima facie, the release of advance money withdrawn from the temple fund without approval from the competent authority falls within the category of financial irregularity," the government letter said.
The communication also questioned the roles of the then Kedarnath administrator, the then officer in charge at Kedarnath and the then BKTC chief executive officer.
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal has demanded transparent proceedings and stringent action against those found guilty.
Dwivedi said accountability would be fixed based on the report. He added that measures would be taken to ensure that no irregularities involving temple funds or devotees' faith recur in future.