'RTI would not be needed if digitalisation had been adopted aggressively', says Rahul Narwekar

 Moneycontrol: Pune: Friday, 31 October 2025
"Transparency brings in trust. It needs data and the data has to be protected,” said Rahul Narwekar.

Rahul Narwekar,Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative
 Assembly, speaking at India Web 3.0 Summit

At the India Web 3.0 Summit hosted by Moneycontrol, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar emphasised that “digitalisation is no more a choice but a compulsion for every state and country to lead the world.” Speaking during a session moderated by Nalin Mehta, Managing Editor and Chief AI Officer of Editorial Operations at Network18, Narwekar reflected on how technology, governance, and transparency are deeply interconnected in shaping India’s democratic and economic future.
Highlighting the state’s ambitions, he said, “Maharashtra today aspires to become a $1 trillion economy in the next few years. It has one of the finest network of industries in the country.” He added that the state’s growth story depends heavily on how well it embraces the digital transformation journey.
Narwekar noted that while accessibility of data is important, “it is more than the availability of data, it is vital to secure data,” pointing to the need for a stronger framework for data protection in the country. He stressed that transparency in governance must go hand in hand with the protection of citizen data, observing that “the infrastructure for data protection is not adequate in the country.”
Discussing India’s governance model, Narwekar remarked, “India has a federal structure of governance. Every level has its own legislative body.” He further elaborated on the vision of the Prime Minister, saying, “PM Modi is clear that if federalism has to be protected, then all the key decisions of policies should be available to everyone easily. Sitting in Maharashtra, I should be able to access policy decisions of other states as well. More transparency will result in the progress of democratic values.”
He linked the idea of openness to the very foundation of trust in a democracy. “Transparency brings in trust. It needs data and the data has to be protected,” he said, adding a thought-provoking perspective that “when the Right To Information Act was passed, perhaps if the then government had aggressively adopted digitalisation, then maybe there may not have been any need for the RTI Act itself.”
Reflecting on his tenure as Speaker, Narwekar shared how technology has already begun empowering citizens. “When I took over as the speaker of the Maharashtra assembly, common man had difficulty in accessing debates and other key things,” he said. He added, “Now, all the debates and key decisions are available with just a click, which can be used anywhere such as courts or somewhere else. This will enhance the spirit of democracy and good governance and result in the overall progress of the nation.”
He also cited how digital tools are transforming everyday governance. “Earlier, you had to run to the local tehsil office for real estate information. Now you can access it from your office,” he said, illustrating the reach of digital reforms.
Narwekar said that “India is an aspirational society, we are the fourth largest economy now and will be the third largest by 2027.” Yet, he cautioned that achieving these milestones would be impossible without embracing the digital revolution that builds transparency, strengthens trust, and protects data integrity at every level of governance.

No information on vertical hill cuttings between 45 degrees and 90 degrees in Himachal: RTI - Written by Saurabh Parashar

Indian Express: Shimla: Friday, 31 October 2025
Geological experts say NHAI’s denial of information, an attempt to evade responsibility

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has stated that it has no information on locations where hills were cut at vertical angles between 45 and 90 degrees in Himachal Pradesh, according to replies received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act filed by The Indian Express.
The RTI application, filed in August, came amid growing public resentment in the state over unscientific and vertical hill cuttings that have led to widespread destruction, particularly during monsoons.
The NHAI also informed in its replies that it suffered losses of approximately Rs 200 crore due to damage to already constructed highways and machinery caused by natural disasters between January 2021 and July 2025.
On the specific question seeking the locations where hills were cut between 45 degree and 90 degree, the replies of NHAI’s Project Implement Units (PIUs) Shimla, Palampur and Hamirpur stated, “No such information is available in NHAI PIU Palampur and Shimla. However, it is informed that four-laning work has been/is being executed within the available Right of Way (ROW) and in accordance with the standards and specifications prescribed by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).”
According to the replies, seven major four-laning projects worth Rs 11,483.156 crore are currently under construction in Himachal Pradesh. The authority has reported total damages amounting to Rs 197.86 crore due to natural calamities over the past five years, which include Rs 26.86 crore on Parwanoo-Solan stretch on NH-5 and Rs 171 crore on Mandi-Palampur-Kiratpur National Highway.
Geological experts, however, have termed NHAI’s denial of information on vertical hill cuttings as an attempt to evade responsibility. Geoscientist and former head of the Department of Geology, Panjab University, Prof. Arun Deep Ahluwalia, said, “The NHAI is under extreme pressure at the moment. Its denial of having information about vertical cuttings is like a construction company denying responsibility for a building that collapsed before completion”.
Jaswant Singh, a member of the IRC from Himachal Pradesh, also criticised NHAI’s stance. “Not a single recommendation of the IRC was followed in the construction of the National Highways in Himachal Pradesh. Hills are being cut by private contractors hired by the NHAI in full public view, and widespread landslides have been reported along these stretches for a long time,” he said.
When contacted, Col. Ajay Singh Bargoti, regional officer (RO), NHAI Himachal, defended the replies but did not rule out the possibility of vertical cuttings. He emphasised that cutting hills at a 90-degree angle was not feasible. “Whatever reply was given by NHAI is correct. Indeed, the extent of cutting depends on the ROW available for construction, but a hill cannot sustain a 90-degree cut. We always cut hills at less than 90 degrees,” he said.
 
In June this year, construction on the Shoghi–Shimla four-lane section was halted following massive protests triggered by the collapse of a five-storey house located atop a hill where widening work was underway. The incident led to an alleged assault on two NHAI officials by Himachal Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, who blamed the officials for “unscientific and steep” hill cuttings.
The seven projects currently under construction include Rs 1,361.79 crore for the 31-km HP/Punjab Borde –Mo section on the Kiratpur–Manali NH, Rs 698.46 crore for the 21 km Sihuni–Rajkol section, Rs 815.69 crore for the Thanpuri–Parour stretch, Rs 1,519.53 crore for the 23 km Solan–Kaithlighat section, Rs 2,599.08 crore for the 18 km Kaithlighat–Shakral section, Rs 2,796.61 crore for the 10 km Shakral–Dhalli stretch, and Rs 1,692 crore for the Pinjore Bypass–Nalagarh section.
The replies also stated that two four-lane projects the 10 km Mo Sihuni stretch on the Mandi- Pathankot NH-154 and the 40 km Parwanoo-Solan four-lane were completed over the past five years.
In Himachal Pradesh, the NHAI manages 785 km of National Highways out of a total length of 2,592 km, with the remaining stretches maintained by the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
The information sought pertains mainly to the NH-154 stretch, a crucial corridor linking Punjab and Himachal Pradesh through key locations such as Pathankot, Nurpur, Palampur, and Mandi. The project forms part of the NHAI’s efforts to upgrade the highway into a four-lane corridor to improve connectivity and reduce travel time across the hilly terrain of Kangra district.
However, environmentalists have repeatedly raised concerns over hill cutting, slope instability, and landslide vulnerability along these expanding highway corridors. While the RTI response indicates that construction is being carried out as per prescribed norms, it also highlights the absence of specific geological data on slope angles and risk-prone stretches at the PIU level.
The reply, furnished by Vikas Suyjerala, CPIO-cum-Project Director, PIU Palampur, outlines the status of several ongoing and completed projects, along with details sought on tunnels, hill cutting, and damages caused by natural calamities along National Highways in Himachal Pradesh.

Telangana RTI in Deep Sleep: Fines after 10-Year Coma!

 Metro India: Telangana: Friday, 31 October 2025

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, once a beacon of transparency, lies in tatters in Telangana. Applications pile up unanswered, annual reports gather dust, and the Commission's website remains a relic of 2014. But a rare spark: fines imposed on errant officers after years of inaction. RTI activists hail it as a wake-up call, yet question if the "people's government" will truly revive this vital law or let it rot further.
The RTI Act is comatose in the state no responses to pleas, zero updates on the Commission's site. Despite a full bench of commissioners appointed after 11 years of dormancy, the engine of accountability sputters. Activists roar: This isn't oversight; it's outright sabotage. The government dodges public scrutiny, burying info that belongs in the open. Only the dusty 2014 annual report haunts the website, a ghostly reminder of better days.
Fines after a Decade: A Glimmer of Justice?
For the first time in ten years, the RTI Commission strikes back. Commissioner PV Srinivasa Rao slapped Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 2,000 fines on two officers for stonewalling information in recent appeals. RTI warriors and NGOs erupt in cheers finally, a crack in the wall of neglect. No penalties since 2014? That's not enforcement; that's extinction. This move reignites hope, but is it a flash or a fire?
From united Andhra in 2014 to Telangana's birth, the RTI Commission documented its deeds online. Then? Radio silence. No annual reports, no stats on appeals received, resolved, or pending. Mandated to table reports in the Assembly yearly? Forgotten files, zero visibility. Post-state formation, the government installed commissioners and called it a day. Result: A slumbering giant, with performance metrics as invisible as ghosts. Activists slam: If no reports for a decade, what’s this if not criminal negligence?
Echoes of the past regime: Will history repeat?
RTI champions blast the previous government's decade-long coma for the Commission. Now, under the "people's government," the same lethargy? Yet, these fines hint at dawn breaking. Speed up resolutions, hammer negligent officials with fines and actions boom, confidence surges among citizens, NGOs, and activists. Officials still ignore basic info requests, shirk first appeals, forcing second ones. Over 500 unresolved cases? That's a backlog begging for blitzkrieg reform.
Only 40-50% of Government Orders (GOs) hit the public domain; the rest? Shrouded in secrecy, a habit inherited from the old regime. Activists thunder: Unacceptable in a democracy! Born under Congress at the Center, the RTI Act demands strict enforcement hold officials accountable, flood the public with info. Result? Government earns goodwill, trust skyrockets. Hiding GOs? That's not governance; that's gatekeeping.
Time to act boldly: Activists demand Revival
"Ten years of RTI Commission paralysis thousands of appeals rotting," blasts Sunkari Prashanth, RTI activist and Loksatta Movement's Warangal Joint District President. "Hearing of fines after a decade? Thrilling! But Rs. 2,000-5,000? Peanuts won't jolt officials. Order departmental probes; that's the knockout punch. Restore pre-2014 vigor: Deliver justice, transparency, and info to the masses. Only then will the RTI Act's spirit triumph." In Telangana, the RTI Act teeters on revival or ruin. Will the government unleash its power, or let shadows prevail? The clock ticks transparency can't wait.

RTI: It’s a matter of right. A transformative tool to restore transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance - M. M. Shuja

Greater Kashmir: Srinagar: Friday, 31 October 2025

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, was passed by the then UPA Government led by late Dr. Manmohan Singh. The Act was not only meant to help citizens to obtain information from government departments but also to ensure transparency and good governance. In the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, there was a separate RTI Act in force. But, after the abrogation of Article 370 and the downgrading of the State into a Union Territory, the Central RTI Act, 2005 became applicable. Initially, there was limited awareness about filing RTI applications and the process of obtaining information. However, some activists worked tirelessly to popularize the Act in J&K. Among them were Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, Shahnawaz Sultan, and Sheikh Ghulam Rasool. They formed the group namely J&K RTI Movement for awareness of RTI Act-2009.
I used to visit the office of Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, a noted activist from J&K, where people from far-flung areas would come with their grievances. Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, then Chairman of the J&K People’s Forum, guided citizens on how to file RTI applications, First Appeals, and Second Appeals. For general public, seminars and awareness camps were organized across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, where Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, an excellent orator, would deliver informative lectures on the RTI Act, encourage people to file RTI. While filing Public Interest Litigations (PIL) in the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, official information from departments is mandatory to submit. On the advice of Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, I began filing the RTI applications to concerned departments, both within the valley and outside J&K, to gather information. Over time, I collected valuable data, carried by local dailies of J&K and even national papers of India. Not only applicants used to visit my office, even Public Information Officers (PIOs) approached me for guidance to reply RTI applications and Ist Appeals.
The RTI Act is not merely a law but a powerful tool in the hands of ordinary citizens. On 4th November 2023, the then Chief Secretary of J&K invited few activists, including me, to attend a meeting at Banquet Hall Srinagar along with the Heads of Departments (HODs), to seek suggestions for better implementation of the RTI Act-2005. He, after hearing from activists, assured timely replies, proper training of Public Information officers, and online RTI portal for applicants for speedy disposal.
Though the RTI online portal was later introduced, but most Public Information Officers appointed by the departments lack the competence or authority to effectively handle applications. Many are non Gazetted officials who are unable to direct their superiors to release information or impose penalties for delays. It’s obvious, information is often delayed. The other issue is departmental websites remaining outdated, with incomplete or missing records due to multiple reasons. When departments failed to provide information, the applicants used to file a First Appeal before the Appellate Authority (FAA), who often responds vaguely, claiming the Public Information Officer supplied “all available information.” Most appellants are not even heard during the First Appeal.
The next and only remedy is to file a Second Appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC), New Delhi, since J&K no longer has its own Information Commission. Unfortunately, thousands of second appeals are pending at the CIC, with cases taking almost a year for disposal. If the Government of J&K is genuinely committed to accountability and good governance, it must strengthen RTI implementation. Public Information Officers PIOs must be properly trained, and all departmental information should be made available on official website. Both officials and citizens need the required awareness on the RTI Act. Some departments still deny to share information, misusing Supreme Court rulings as an excuse which is incorrect. Only sensitive information is exempted. Even Police, Paramilitary, and other departments are bound to disclose information under RTI Act, 2005.
For good governance, RTI is a fundamental right of every citizen, and bureaucrats have no authority to deny information. The government should establish a special RTI bench for J&K to ensure prompt disposal of Appeals. Public knowledge is crucial, it is not just the duty of RTI activists but also of the administration to educate both citizens and officials about the Act. Jammu and Kashmir continues to face issues of embezzlement, bribery, favoritism, use of substandard materials in public works, and corruption across departments. If implemented effectively, the RTI Act 2005 can be a transformative tool to restore transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance.
(M. Shuja, Senior Journalist & Human Rights Activist)

Launch portal to keep records of allotted lands for people’s access: Information Commission to govt : Written by Parimal A Dabhi

Indian Express: Ahmedabad: Thursday, 30 October 2025.
The Commission ordered the various concerned revenue authorities of Jamnagar to carry out intensive efforts to trace the document and provide it to Rathod free of cost after it is recovered.

Commission also noted that records related to land allotment
falls under A category of documents which is permanent.
(File Photo)

In a significant order, the Gujarat State Information Commission has recommended two departments of the state government Revenue, and Panchayat, Rural Housing & Rural Development to create arrangements so that people can access and get records related to various land parcels allotted to them under various government schemes in the past from an online portal.
State Information Commissioner Nikhil Bhatt passed the order on October 14 while dealing with a second appeal filed by one Hirabhai Rathod from Moti Matli village of Kalavad taluka of Jamnagar district. Rathod was allotted some land parcels under a government initiative in 1966. He had sought four different revenue documents related to the allotment of land from the concerned revenue authorities in Jamnagar under the provisions of the Right to Information Act. However, as he was not provided the full information sought on the ground that it was not available, Rathod first moved a first appeal and then a second one before the Commission.
During the pendency of the second appeal, following orders of the Commission, Rathod got three documents he had sought from the authorities. However, the fourth document Chaturdisha no Sketch (a sketch of the allotted land with four directions at the relevant time) was yet to be provided to him since “it was not found”.
The Commission ordered the various concerned revenue authorities of Jamnagar to carry out intensive efforts to trace the document and provide it to Rathod free of cost after it is recovered.
In its order, the Commission also expressed concern over the fact that around 40-50% of the second appeals that the Commission gets related to the Revenue department are related to the four documents concerning agricultural or residential plots of land allotted to people by the government which are not available. It said that when people have partial records of the four documents, they seek it through RTI applications for some transactions. And those documents are made available only after the orders of the Commission.
“In this context, if the Revenue and Panchayat departments carry out a special drive and put available records online on a specially developed portal, innumerable poor and needy families whom the state government has distributed land/plots in the past to bring them above the poverty line can get all the records related to such land/plots. In this regard, it has come to the knowledge of the Commission that owing to lack of intense search of documents by different offices, litigants face immense hardship,” the Commission observed in its order.
Eventually, the Commission made the recommendations to the departments of Revenue and Panchayat, Rural Housing and Rural Development to make arrangements to provide documents related to allotment of land to people on a portal in digital format so that people can view the same and get its copy online. In this context, the Commission also cited the portal of the Revenue department which contains current and past records of rights of revenue survey numbers. It recommended the Revenue department to put the records related to allotment of land parcels on the existing portal itself. Whereas, it recommended the Panchayat, Rural Housing and Rural Development to develop a similar portal providing facilities where people can get the records related to the allotted plots/land online.
The Commission also noted that records related to land allotment falls under A category of documents which is permanent. It suggested that easy availability of such records will bring down the number of RTI applications in the offices of the departments of Revenue and Panchayat, Rural Housing & Rural Development.

Gujarat Information Commission recommends proactive disclosure of land allotment records

Counterview: Ahmedabad: Thursday, 30 October 2025.

In a landmark order, the Gujarat Information Commission has urged the state’s Revenue and Panchayat Departments to make land allotment records digitally accessible to citizens. The directive, issued by State Information Commissioner Nikhil Bhatt in Appeal No. A-4898-2024, followed a case filed by Hirabhai Kamabhai Rathod of Moti Matli village, Taluka Kalavad, District Jamnagar.
Rathod had sought copies of documents including the sanad, possession record, and “Chaturdasha” (four-side) map related to agricultural land allotted to him in 1966. Despite exhaustive searches, the Chaturdasha map could not be traced by the concerned authorities.
During the hearing, the Commission noted that many similar appeals involve missing or untraceable records of land allotted under various government schemes such as Santhani, Hakkthi, Haraji, Vinamulya, and Rahatdar allotments. Citing the need for systemic transparency, the Commission invoked Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005, to issue broad recommendations.
It advised the Revenue Department to undertake a special drive to upload not only post-2005 land records but also older allotment records including allotment orders, sanads, possession receipts, and Chaturdasha maps on the state’s AnyRoR portal.
The Panchayat, Rural Housing and Rural Development Department was similarly advised to establish a dedicated online portal to provide citizens with access to certified copies of land and plot allotment records. The Commission also directed district and taluka-level offices to trace and, if found, provide the missing Chaturdasha map to the appellant free of cost.
Emphasizing that land allotment documents are classified as permanent “A-category” records requiring systematic preservation, the Commission stated that proactive disclosure would reduce the number of RTI applications and appeals, while ensuring transparency and easier access to information, especially for poor and marginalized citizens.

Have RTI query? Take a scooter instead. Why answer seekers in Kashmir are hitting a wall

Times of India: Srinagar: Thursday, 30 October 2025.

For the law students gathered last week at Tagore Hall a modest state-run auditorium tucked behind Iqbal Park in Srinagar’s Gogji Bagh filing RTI applications began as an exercise for their coursework. Soon, though, it became an early education in how power responds to questions. Some received partial replies. Others got silence. One was even offered a scooter. Yet others were contacted by people who suggested it would be better to let things go.
Sabika Rasool had filed an RTI request about development meetings in her village in Pulwama. The reply didn’t come at first. A phone call to her father did. “They told him it doesn’t look good that I was filing such applications,” she said. Then came an unexpected offer a scooter if she withdrew it.
A student at the University of Kashmir, Sabika had filed her request on Aug 1 to the rural development department. She wanted to know how often gram sabha meetings were held and what development works had followed. Her seemingly simple query triggered a quiet but unmistakable response from the local administration.
When she visited the office in person, she was directed from one desk to another, only to be told "the designated officer had been transferred". A few days later, her father received a call. The caller said it would be better if his daughter didn’t pursue the matter. She received a 32-page reply in Urdu on Oct 15, listing 11 meetings and referencing projects under schemes like Har Ghar Jal. Sabika is not convinced that the data is accurate. But one thing changed: meetings are now announced in mosques. “At least people know when they’re happening,” she said.
Dr Peerzada Farhat, the then assistant commissioner (development) at Pulwama, described the scooter claim as a “white lie.” “All data of the rural development department is online and accessible, and in public domain.”
Like Sabika, these students had not set out to confront the state. Many had filed their RTIs as part of legal coursework. Yet in department after department, they found that even routine queries were met with delay, redirection, or informal pressure delivered not through written denials, but through relatives, neighbours, or local influencers.
When Idrees Farooq asked about the renovation of a stadium in Ganderbal seeking costs, contractor names, floodlight installations and revenue from night matches the response he received cited just Rs 31,500, without any details. Soon after, some of his relatives were contacted by officials. “I had to explain it wasn’t a complaint, just an RTI,” Farooq said.
An official from the sports council department said they had responded properly to the RTI and encouraged the applicant to appeal, if unsatisfied. “There is a lot of politics involved in this matter, but despite that, we have provided our response. We do not look at it through a political lens,” she said.
Some applicants didn’t receive a reply at all but their questions still appeared to make something shift. Junaid Budoo, a student from Uri, had asked why a public library appeared on govt rolls but did not function. He heard nothing from the department of libraries. But within weeks, the library opened and staff began reporting for duty. “They didn’t send me a reply,” Budoo said, “but the library started functioning again.”
In Kargil, Ghulam Abbas filed an RTI with the irrigation and flood control department in Ladakh, seeking information about a long-stalled canal project in his village. Weeks later, it wasn’t an official who contacted him but his father who’d been approached informally. “They told my father that the department had no old records, and my father then advised me to withdraw it,” Abbas said.
In March this year, the J&K information technology department issued a press statement asserting that the Union Territory’s RTI portal launched on Jan 10 was “fully functional” and operating in compliance with the RTI Act, 2005. According to the department, over 15,800 applications had been filed, with 11,631 disposed and 4,260 in process.
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative reported in 2024 that RTI filings in J&K had fallen by 31% since 2022. The group attributed the decline to lack of oversight, extended delays, limited digital access in rural areas and what it called a “culture of discouragement.”

महाराष्ट्र सरकार की ‘लाडली बहना’ योजना हुई ‘खर्चीली’! एक साल में 43,000 करोड़ खर्च, RTI से हुआ चौंकाने वाला खुलासा

राष्ट्रीय खबर: महाराष्ट्र: Wednesday, 29 October 2025.

महाराष्ट्र में विधानसभा चुनाव से पहले लाडली बहन योजना की शुरुआत की गई थी. इस योजना के शुरू होने से सरकार को चुनावों में काफी फायदा भी मिला था. उस समय सरकार की तरफ से इस योजना को चलाने के लिए 36,000 करोड़ रुपये का कोष निर्धारित किया गया था. हालांकि एक साल बाद इस योजना पर खर्च हुई रकम का खुलासा हुआ है, जिससे पता चला है कि इस योजना को चलाने के लिए निर्धारित कोष से ज्यादा रकम खर्च की गई है.
आरटीआई खुलासे के अनुसार, महाराष्ट्र की लाड़की बहन योजना पर एक साल में ₹43,045 करोड़ से अधिक खर्च हुए हैं. हालांकि लाभार्थियों की संख्या घटने से कुछ बचत हुई है, लेकिन पर भविष्य के लिए निर्धारित ₹36,000 करोड़ के कोष के मुकाबले यह खर्च अधिक है.
सरकारी खजाने पर दबाव बढ़ना तय
लाडली बहन योजना के तहत जुलाई 2024 से जून 2025 तक 43,045.06 करोड़ रुपये वितरित किए गए हैं. इस बात का खुलासा आरटीआई से हुआ है. इसका खुलासा आरटीआई कार्यकर्ता जितेंद्र घाडगे ने किया है.
सरकार ने वित्तीय वर्ष 2025-26 के लिए इस योजना के लिए 36,000 करोड़ रुपये का कोष निर्धारित किया है. हालांकि, पहले वर्ष में औसत मासिक व्यय 3,587 करोड़ रुपये था. इसलिए, यदि लाभार्थियों की संख्या मानदंडों के अनुसार और कम नहीं होती है, तो ऐसी संभावना है कि इससे सरकारी खजाने पर दबाव बढ़ेगा.
कब कम और कब ज्यादा हुई लाभार्थियों संख्या?

• आरटीआई के अनुसार, योजना शुरू होने के बाद से अब तक 43,045.06 करोड़ रुपये की राशि वितरित की जा चुकी है.
  
• जुलाई से आवेदन भरने के दौरान लाभार्थियों की संख्या में वृद्धि हुई और अप्रैल 2025 तक लाभार्थियों की सबसे अधिक संख्या 2,47,99,797 (2.47 करोड़) महिलाओं की थी.
  
• हालांकि, जून 2025 तक लाभार्थियों की संख्या और वितरित राशि में लगभग नौ प्रतिशत की कमी आई.
  
• मानदंडों के आधार पर, लगभग 77,980 महिलाओं को इससे बाहर रखा गया, जिससे राज्य को लगभग 340.42 करोड़ रुपये की बचत हुई.
  

सरकार के सामने आ सकती है चुनौती
सरकार ने वित्तीय वर्ष 2025-26 के लिए इस योजना के लिए 36,000 करोड़ रुपये का कोष निर्धारित किया है. हालांकि, पहले वर्ष में औसत मासिक व्यय 3,587 करोड़ रुपये था. इसलिए यदि मापदंड के आधार पर लाडली बहन योजना के लाभार्थियों की संख्या में और कमी नहीं आई तो बड़ी चुनौती खड़ी हो जाएगी. राज्य सरकार को योजना की राशि वितरित करने में अतिरिक्त दबाव का सामना करना पड़ सकता है.

Siliguri MLA seeks certificate details in RTI after fake birth–death racket in Kharibari

 Telegraph India: Siliguri: Wednesday, 29 October 2025.
The MLA’s RTI follows the recent arrests of two persons charged with issuing hundreds of fake death and birth certificates in lieu of cash at the Kharibari rural hospital. Kharibari is a block in the Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district

MLA Shankar Ghosh : File picture

Shankar Ghosh, the BJP MLA of Siliguri and the chief whip of the party, has filed an application under the RTI Act, seeking details of the birth and death certificates issued from hospitals and panchayats located under the Kharibari block of Darjeeling district.
The MLA’s RTI follows the recent arrests of two persons charged with issuing hundreds of fake death and birth certificates in lieu of cash at the Kharibari rural hospital. Kharibari is a block in the Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district.
“I have filed an RTI and have requested data on the birth and death certificates issued in the Kharibari block from July this year and onwards,” MLA Ghosh said.
“This is because the police have found that a racket, which was involved in issuing fake birth and death certificates, was active at the Kharibari rural hospital,” he said.
On October 17, the block medical officer of health (BMOH) of Kharibari filed a complaint with the police, alleging that some people issued fake certificates of birth and death for ₹10,000 each from the hospital.
The police acted on the complaint and initiated a probe. Initially, they arrested Nabhajit Guha, who was associated with a Bangla Sahatyata Kendra in the block, and a few days later, Partha Saha, a data entry operator.
Saha had fled to Nepal to evade arrest. A couple of days back, as Saha returned to India, intending to flee to Bihar, he was arrested.
During the investigation, the police have found that Saha issued hundreds of fake certificates to people dwelling in different locations, including neighbouring states like Bihar, against money.
“We suspect there are some more people involved in the racket, as it is tough to believe that a data entry operator can carry out such a massive illegal practice in a state-run health establishment,” MLA Ghosh said.
“That is why I asked for the data through RTI, as records show that the rate at which such certificates were issued over the past few months is much higher than the usual rate of births and deaths in the area,” the MLA added.
In his letter, Ghosh has sought detailed information about the persons in whose name birth or death certificates were issued, which includes their names, address and the panchayat areas concerned, said sources.
The MLA had earlier expressed concern that fake birth certificates could legitimise infiltrators in the region.

Gov’t committed to Right to Information

Business & Financial Times: Ghana: Wednesday, 29 October 2025.
Government is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the Right to Information Act as it promotes transparency, accountability and probity which remain core to its Reset Ghana agenda, President John Dramani Mahama has said.

Ghana President John Dramani Mahama

He said the agenda of his government for the sustainable development of the country and improvement in the lives of the people calls for an open and inclusive governance which brings all citizens along and this could only be possible through the free flow of information amongst and betwixt the governed and governors across board.
The disclosures were contained in an address delivered on behalf of the President by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine at the Stakeholder’s Conference held in Accra over the weekend as part of activities to mark the 5th Anniversary of the Right to Information Commission.
The President assured the Commission of the Government’s continued support for its effective operations and activities.
On his part, Mr. Felix Ofosu Kwakye, the Minister of State for Government Communications said the RTI Commission symbolizes the democratic credentials of Ghana and bears testimony to the freedom of expression and free speech for all citizens irrespective of position, religion, tribe or sex.
He commended the Commission of what it has been able to achieve in its five years of existence and urged them to include environmental information in their sensitization drive to deepen the people’s knowledge about the dangers of illegal mining.
In her welcome address, Ms. Genevieve Shirley Lartey, the Executive Secretary of the Right To Information Commission (RTIC) disclosed that the Commission has drafted a Legislative Instrument (LI) which would enhance, smoothen and strengthen the implementation of Act 989 passed by Parliament in 2019. She said the LI is ready to be laid before the Parliament of Ghana in the coming days for consideration and approval.
The Commission, despite what she described as “teething challenges” has placed Ghana on high pedestals on the international space as regards the implementation of the Right To Information which was testified by being given the opportunity to host the UN International Day of Access to Information in Ghana last year in spite of its relatively young period of existence.
Activities marking the 5th anniversary of the Commission was on the theme ‘Championing Transparency and Accountability through Access to Environmental Information in a Digital Era’.

BJP MLA Bharath Shetty demandsthat the Speaker's office be brought under the purview of the RTI Act.

 Deccan Herald: Mangalore: Wednesday, 29 October 2025.
The Mangalore South legislator also demanded that the Speaker's office be brought under the purview of the RTI Act.

Dr Y Bharath Shetty. Credit: DH Photo

BJP's Mangalore City North MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty has demanded a probe by a sitting judge into the alleged irregularities and corruption in purchases made by the office of Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader.
Addressing mediapersons, Dr Shetty said that crores of rupees had been spent in the name of modifying the Legislators’ House, cars and organising a book fair.
“The legislators had not sought any modification of the Legislators’ House. Yet,  smart locks have been installed in the legislators’ rooms,” he said.
He added that beds, bed sheets, curtains, pillows, and other furnishings had been replaced unnecessarily. “Earlier, damaged items were replaced whenever required. Now, additional chairs and other furniture have been supplied without any need. When I questioned the estate manager, he said these purchases were made as per directions from the Speaker’s office,” he said.
The MLA alleged that several non-emergency purchases were made under Section 4(g) of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 1999 (KTPP Act), which allows exemptions from tendering in special cases. He also demanded that the Speaker’s office be brought under the purview of the RTI Act.
“We are wondering how the Speaker’s office got a 4(g) exemption under the KTPP Act. If modifications were truly needed, they should have been made through proper tender procedures as per government guidelines,” he said.
Dr Shetty alleged that the government had purchased smart locks, smart safe lockers,  smart energy solutions, and stainless-steel water purifiers at inflated prices.
The MLA said that the issue will be brought to the notice of the Governor and raised in the upcoming Assembly session.
He further said that while the Speaker’s announcement of a book fair at Vidhana Soudha was initially welcomed, a massive Rs 4.5 crore was spent on the five-day event.
“Rosewood doors have been installed at the entrance of the Legislative Assembly and carpets have been fully replaced at a cost of several lakhs,” he said.
Accusing the state government of lacking financial discipline, Dr Shetty said, “When MLAs seek funds for road development, the government does not release them. The announcements of fund releases remain only on paper. The lounge in Vidhana Soudha has been converted into a "massage parlour" where machines are being marketed. Free food is being supplied to all there needs to be an account of it. We want to know whether the food is subsidised or completely free.”

Syrup deaths Regulator blocks prosecution information : RTI

New Indian Express: New Delhi: Wednesday, 29 October 2025.
While Maiden was linked to the deaths of over 60 children in The Gambia, Marion was blamed for the deaths of 18 in Uzbekistan.

India faced intense international heat after over 100 children died due to contaminated cough syrups made by three pharma companies in The Gambia and Uzbekistan.
However, after the initial outrage, international alerts, and announcements of probe in 2022-2023, India’s drug regulator has refused to share the action taken against the pharma companies that were at the centre of the international storm, a latest RTI query revealed.
Not only did the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) refuse to reveal the details of the investigation and the subsequent prosecution against the three firms Maiden Pharmaceuticals, Marion Biotech Pharmaceuticals and Fourrts (India) Pvt Ltd it also cited a section of the RTI Act to stonewall information.
While Maiden was linked to the deaths of over 60 children in The Gambia, Marion was blamed for the deaths of 18 in Uzbekistan. Both syrups had dangerous levels of the toxins diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG). Fourrts was flagged in 2023 for containing high DEG and EG.
In its reply, CDSCO, Chennai, said on Fourrts, “no such information is available.” Besides, “The information sought by the applicant is exempted under Sec 8 (1) (d) (g) (h) of the RTI Act 2005.” CDSCO, Ghaziabad, said: “...stop production order, suspension, cancellation of licenses/product licenses etc. have been taken.” No word on prosecution. ““That’s the reason why the pharma companies continue to flout the laws,” RTI activist Dr K V Babu said.
Stonewalling RTI query
RTI activist Dr K V Babu said, “CDSCO refused to share the status of investigation and prosecution against the 3 pharma companies.” It shows there is “no visible action or prosecution by the authority against them.”

Tahsildar fined Rs 25,000 for not providing information under RTI Act

 Deccan Herald: Karnataka: Wednesday, 29 October 2025.

Narase Gowda, a resident of Kunduru village in the taluk, had filed an RTI application seeking information regarding a file. As the information was delayed, the applicant submitted an appeal to the Information Commission.
Kunigal (Tumakuru district): Information Commissioner Rudranna Hartikote has imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Tahsildar Rashmi for allegedly not providing information to a villager under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
He has also directed the Revenue Department commissioner to initiate disciplinary action against her.
Narase Gowda, a resident of Kunduru village in the taluk, had filed an RTI application seeking information regarding a file. As the information was delayed, the applicant submitted an appeal to the Information Commission.
After conducting an inquiry, the Commission found that the Tahsildar had violated her duty norms by failing to provide the information within the stipulated time and by providing incorrect details to the Commission.
The Commission has ordered that the fine amount be deducted from her November salary and paid to the Commission, and has also directed that Rs 5,000 be paid to the applicant as compensation.

Why Access to Environmental Information Matters in the Digital Age

UNESCO: Nepal: Tuesday, 28 October 2025.
Access to information is a fundamental right. When communities receive early extreme weather events alerts or air-quality updates, they can act fast, stay safe, and protect their future. This need for timely and readily available information was the focus of this year’s International Day for Universal Access to Information.

Nepal’s Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2007 gives every citizen the power to seek and receive public data. For environmental journalists, this law is a powerful tool, helping them uncover how climate funds are used, how environmental policies are implemented, and how local actions shape national development objectives. By exercising the right to know, journalists strengthen transparency and accountability.
To better understand how the Right to Information Act functions in practice, UNESCO reached out to environmental journalists who had previously participated in UNESCO’s workshop on “Strengthening Transboundary Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Reporting in the Nepal-India Context” from 24 to 27 June 2025. They were asked about their awareness of the Right to Information Act, its use in their work, the opportunities it grants, and challenges they have encountered. All five journalists shared that they are fully aware of their right to information and have used it in their reporting, mainly to obtain data on rainfall, government budgets, disaster preparedness, and environmental policy decisions.
Their experiences show that the Right to Information Act works as both a gateway and a challenge for environmental journalism in Nepal. Journalists often use Right to Information requests to access data that is not publicly available, from climate statistics to details of development projects.
At the same time, they shared that they face hurdles such as delays, incomplete replies, and refusals to share information under broad exemptions. Some noted that information is often shared only in printed or scanned formats, making it much harder to analyze and use than digital files. Additionally, they also noted that officials can be reluctant to release data related to budgets or policy decisions, citing rules or confidentiality.
Despite these difficulties, all agreed that utilizing Right to Information requests increases awareness within government offices and is steadily encouraging a stronger culture of transparency and accountability in environmental governance.
“I usually submit RTI forms to government authorities and other stakeholders to obtain data that are not publicly available but are of public interest,” shared Bidhya Rai, adding that monetary information and policy data are often the hardest to access. Similarly, another journalist Ritesh Panthee noted, “I have utilized RTIs to obtain data such as rainfall patterns and government strategies for my articles,” while acknowledging that bureaucratic delays and incomplete responses often make the process difficult. Another journalist Suresh Bidari shared, “I often file RTI applications to request environmental data, but most of the time officials provide printed or scanned copies instead of open digital files. It would be easier to analyze and share if the data were available in editable formats.”
The journalists’ experiences show that access to information directly influences the quality of reporting on issues such as rainfall, disaster management, and public spending. When environmental data is available and reliable, journalists can help the public better understand the implications of climate change and natural disasters. Even when responses are delayed, the consistent use of Right to Information requests helps reinforce the culture of transparency and participation envisioned by Nepal’s Right to Information Act.
Across South Asia, similar efforts are underway to strengthen the enabling environment for media freedom and access to information. In the Maldives, a recent report on the Environment for Media by the Centre for Law and Democracy and the Maldives Journalists Association urged reforms to ensure that the Right to Information Act meets international standards, removes broad exemptions, and empowers information commissioners to enforce decisions effectively.
Media and Information Literacy (MIL) empowers individuals to access, evaluate, and use information responsibly. It includes the ability to understand how Right to Information (RTI) Acts function, such as knowing how to request public information, what types of information are accessible, and how these laws support transparency and accountability. This is directly linked to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.10.2, which measures how many countries have laws that give people the right to access public information. By learning MIL, people are better equipped to use these laws and take part in building open and fair societies.
By promoting the right to information, UNESCO reinforces the message that environmental data belongs to the public a principle especially important in Nepal, where access to accurate environmental information supports disaster preparedness, sustainable development, and government accountability.

Chief Information Commissioner appointments in 'two or three' weeks, Centre tells SC

 The Hindu: New Delhi: Tuesday, 28 October 2025.
“The best way to kill the RTI is to not make any appointments… If they do make appointments, they select persons out of the blue. Names are just air-dropped. There is no information on who is being appointed,” said Prashant Bhushan.

Image for the purpose of representation only. | Photo Credit: File

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday (October 27, 2025) that vacancies in the Central Information Commission (CIC), which has no Chief Information Commissioner and is down to just two Information Commissioners out of a total sanctioned strength of 10, will be filled in “two or three” weeks.
Appearing before a Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj said the shortlisted names of candidates had been forwarded to the high-profile selection committee of the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and a nominee of the government.
However, petitioners, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, countered that there is a complete information blackout on the appointment process to the Central Information Commission, and “names are air-dropped without any transparency.”
Mr. Bhushan, appearing for Anjali Bhardwaj, Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd.) and Amrita Johri, said it was an irony that the appointments to the very apex body under the Right to Information (RTI) Act were shrouded in opacity while pendency was touching 30,000.
He said pendency was skyrocketing in the commission. Even the Chief Information Commissioner had retired. Nothing had been done since the last order of the Supreme Court 10 months ago, directing the government to fill the vacancies. He said the government was applying the slow-choke to RTI.
“The best way to kill the RTI is to not make any appointments… If they do make appointments, they select persons out of the blue. Names are just air-dropped. There is no information on who is being appointed,” Mr. Bhushan, along with advocates Rahul Gupta and Cheryl D’souza, submitted.
Mr. Nataraj said the petitioners could not decide the suitability of the candidates, and their eligibility was decided by the RTI Act. He said the petitioners ought to wait till the appointments were actually made before complaining.
“So, this is like saying let the murder happen first and then you can raise your voice against it. The names of candidates who have applied for the posts of Information Commissioners have to be made public,” Mr. Bhushan contended.
He referred to a Supreme Court order of January 7, which had required the Centre to disclose “the members of the search committee and the list of candidates who have applied”.
“The government has to make public the members of the search committee and the candidates who have applied. This has to be done before the appointments are made. The shortlisting criteria have also not been provided and the shortlisted candidates are also not known,” Mr. Bhushan pointed out.
He said those who had not applied ought not to be considered for the commission. However, Justice Kant indicated that certain very eminent persons might not even apply, leaving the government no choice but to proactively include their names in public interest.
Mr. Bhushan said the situation in several State Information Commissions was also alarming the Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh information Commissions were “defunct.” He submitted that Chhattisgarh was functioning with a single commissioner despite pendency of nearly 35,000 appeals/complaints.
The court directed States to complete the selection process for Information Commissioners to their State Information Commissions in three weeks and submit reports. States have also been asked to consider sanctioning more posts of Information Commissioners due to the large pendencies. They have been asked to submit status reports on the latest sanctioned strength of Information Commissioners, the status of selection process and the pendency rate.
The case was listed for further hearing on November 17.