News18: Maharashtra: Tuesday, 11 February 2025.
According to the report, Ahmednagar, Chandrapur, Dhule, Kolhapur, Nanded, Solapur, and Akola municipal corporations have not resolved any of the RTI applications filed with them
The Right to Information
(RTI) Act was introduced to bring transparency and accountability in
governance, but its implementation in Maharashtra seems to be faltering.
A recent monthly review report has revealed that several municipal corporations and government offices across the state have failed to process RTI applications in a timely manner. In fact, seven municipal corporations have not cleared a single RTI application, leaving 100 per cent of the received requests pending.
According to the report, Ahmednagar, Chandrapur, Dhule, Kolhapur, Nanded, Solapur, and Akola municipal corporations have not resolved any of the RTI applications filed with them. This backlog has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Act and the reluctance of administrative bodies to share crucial information with citizens.
In particular, Beed Zilla Parishad has come under scrutiny for failing to clear a single RTI application in December, highlighting a worrying trend of opacity in governance.
The situation is equally concerning in police departments. While the Mumbai Police Commissionerate has managed to clear 25 per cent of the RTI applications it received, the Amravati Police Commissionerate has not resolved any of its pending requests. Solapur Police Commissionerate has a backlog of 70 per cent applications, and in Akola, 92 per cent of RTI applications remain unresolved.
Among municipal bodies, the Pune Municipal Corporation has fared slightly better, with 43 per cent applications still pending, while the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has a backlog of 66 per cent. Though these figures are comparatively lower than other municipal corporations, they still indicate a significant delay in providing citizens with the information they seek. The overall inefficiency in processing RTI applications points to systemic issues in governance and a lack of prioritization when it comes to transparency.
Experts have raised concerns that the failure to process RTI applications in a timely manner could weaken public trust in the system. Activists argue that such delays violate the fundamental right of citizens to access information and hold authorities accountable. The state government has been urged to take immediate steps to address the growing backlog and ensure strict compliance with RTI norms. Without timely intervention, the RTI Act, which was meant to empower citizens, may lose its effectiveness in Maharashtra.
According to the report, Ahmednagar, Chandrapur, Dhule, Kolhapur, Nanded, Solapur, and Akola municipal corporations have not resolved any of the RTI applications filed with them
A recent monthly review report has revealed that several municipal corporations and government offices across the state have failed to process RTI applications in a timely manner. In fact, seven municipal corporations have not cleared a single RTI application, leaving 100 per cent of the received requests pending.
According to the report, Ahmednagar, Chandrapur, Dhule, Kolhapur, Nanded, Solapur, and Akola municipal corporations have not resolved any of the RTI applications filed with them. This backlog has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Act and the reluctance of administrative bodies to share crucial information with citizens.
In particular, Beed Zilla Parishad has come under scrutiny for failing to clear a single RTI application in December, highlighting a worrying trend of opacity in governance.
The situation is equally concerning in police departments. While the Mumbai Police Commissionerate has managed to clear 25 per cent of the RTI applications it received, the Amravati Police Commissionerate has not resolved any of its pending requests. Solapur Police Commissionerate has a backlog of 70 per cent applications, and in Akola, 92 per cent of RTI applications remain unresolved.
Among municipal bodies, the Pune Municipal Corporation has fared slightly better, with 43 per cent applications still pending, while the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has a backlog of 66 per cent. Though these figures are comparatively lower than other municipal corporations, they still indicate a significant delay in providing citizens with the information they seek. The overall inefficiency in processing RTI applications points to systemic issues in governance and a lack of prioritization when it comes to transparency.
Experts have raised concerns that the failure to process RTI applications in a timely manner could weaken public trust in the system. Activists argue that such delays violate the fundamental right of citizens to access information and hold authorities accountable. The state government has been urged to take immediate steps to address the growing backlog and ensure strict compliance with RTI norms. Without timely intervention, the RTI Act, which was meant to empower citizens, may lose its effectiveness in Maharashtra.
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