Times of India: Ahmedabad: Sunday, March 23, 2025.
Govt officers in Gujarat
have been put on notice: the Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) will not
tolerate the misinterpretation of its rulings. Amid growing complaints that
officials were falsely citing an alleged "25 applications cap" to reject
RTI requests, the GIC issued a sharp clarification on March 19. It stressed
that its past orders applied only to specific applicants and warned of action
against officials who misuse them. The commission made it clear that every RTI
application must be decided based on the Act's provisions, not on
"misquoted" rulings. Activists say the clarification was long
overdue.
In a statement posted on
social media, the GIC clarified that its previous rulings applied only to
specific cases involving individuals such as Khushal Verma, Nanaji Kalubhai
Jitiya and Harsh Brahmbhatt. "These orders, in certain contexts, addressed
situations where the applicants had filed an unusually high volume of requests
or had failed to provide necessary assurances. They do not automatically extend
to other citizens exercising their rights under the RTI Act," the
commission stated.
The GIC further warned, "Any further misinterpretations or wilful misapplications of its specific orders will be viewed seriously. Proceedings may be initiated against concerned officers who continue to incorrectly interpret and apply these orders."
The commission noted that some public information officers (PIOs) and first appellate authorities were incorrectly citing past rulings such as an order dated Feb 6, 2025 to reject unrelated applicants' first appeals, falsely claiming they had exceeded an application limit.
The commission made it clear that no such universal cap exists and that each application must be evaluated on its own merit under the RTI Act. Activists welcomed the GIC's clarification. "Some govt departments were conveniently quoting orders out of context to reject appeals. We brought this to the commission's attention, and a much-needed clarification was issued," said Pankaj Bhatt, an RTI activist from Kalupur.
With the GIC's warning in place, officials misusing the RTI framework to restrict access to information may now face serious repercussions.
The GIC further warned, "Any further misinterpretations or wilful misapplications of its specific orders will be viewed seriously. Proceedings may be initiated against concerned officers who continue to incorrectly interpret and apply these orders."
The commission noted that some public information officers (PIOs) and first appellate authorities were incorrectly citing past rulings such as an order dated Feb 6, 2025 to reject unrelated applicants' first appeals, falsely claiming they had exceeded an application limit.
The commission made it clear that no such universal cap exists and that each application must be evaluated on its own merit under the RTI Act. Activists welcomed the GIC's clarification. "Some govt departments were conveniently quoting orders out of context to reject appeals. We brought this to the commission's attention, and a much-needed clarification was issued," said Pankaj Bhatt, an RTI activist from Kalupur.
With the GIC's warning in place, officials misusing the RTI framework to restrict access to information may now face serious repercussions.
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