Challenges remains in Guj's RTI implementation.

Times of India: Ahmedabad: Monday, October 14, 2024.

A recent nationwide study revealed Gujarat's "moderate" performance in the case of the Gujarat State Information Commission (IC) in implementing the Right to Information Act. The Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India, 2023-24 by Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) states that Gujarat's IC is operating at full capacity and registered 8,342 appeals and complaints, disposing of 5,597 in the past year. This performance is better than states like Jharkhand, Tripura, Telangana, and Goa, where ICs were non-functional due to vacancies.

However, Gujarat's backlog of 6,131 cases raises concerns. While significantly lower than Maharashtra's 1.08 lakh pending cases, it indicates room for improvement. "The estimated waiting time for case disposal in Gujarat stands at one year and one month, far better than Chhattisgarh's alarming 5 years and 2 months," states the report. 

Gujarat IC imposed penalties in 115 cases, totalling Rs 6.43 lakh, showcasing moderate enforcement. This contrasts with Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh's higher penalties and the complete absence of penalties in Jharkhand, Telangana, and Tripura. The report notes that Gujarat did not provide information on showcause notices issued under the penalty clause.

Transparency remains a strong suit for Gujarat, with the timely publication of its annual report. Many states lag behind in this crucial aspect of accountability. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh lead in case handling, each managing over 27,000 cases. However, severe backlogs plague several states, with Karnataka (50,000+), Tamil Nadu (41,241), and Bihar (25,101) struggling to keep pace.