The Indian Express: Pune: Wednesday, April 25, 2018.
The 11th
annual report of the State Information Commissioner (SIC) shows a sharp dip in
the number of Right to Information (RTI) applications received by various
government offices across Maharashtra. As compared to the 8,68,818 applications
received under the Act in 2015, only 6,84,289 applications were received at
various government offices the next year, 2016.
Every year,
the SIC collects information pertaining to RTI applications and prepares an
annual report that gives a comprehensive picture of how the RTI Act is
implemented in the state.
The 11th
annual report of the SIC, delayed by two years, was published recently. Months
earlier, it had been placed before the state legislature during the budget
session.
However,
Maharashtra has never seen such a dip in the number of applications since the
Act was introduced in 2006. The number of RTI pleas had decreased in 2014 as
well, but the dip that year was not as steep as the one seen in 2016 (see box).
The report
reveals that the Urban Development Department had received the highest number
of applications (2,39,338), followed by the Revenue Department (1,42,978). The
Water Resources Department received the lowest number of applications 13,263 in 2016.
Of the
6,84,289 applications received that year, 42,415 had reached the SIC as the
second appeal, which means 93.02 per cent of applicants were dealt with at the
first stage.
Citing the
probable reasons behind fewer RTI applications, activist Vivek Velankar said,
“Public Information Officers are using flimsy grounds to deny information… and
no fine is imposed on the errant officers”.
Velankar said
SICs, who are supposed to ensure that the Act is properly implemented, have
failed to do so.
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