TMV: Article: Sunday, January 25, 2026.
The Right to
Information (RTI) Act, which came into force on October 12, 2005, marked a
watershed moment in India’s democratic journey. For the first time, citizens
were legally empowered to demand information from the government, transforming
transparency from a moral appeal into a justiciable right. Over two decades,
the law has exposed corruption, improved accountability, and strengthened
citizen participation. Yet, the journey has not been without challenges, and
the promise of RTI is increasingly threatened by systemic delays, vacancies,
and bureaucratic inertia.
Since its inception, millions of RTI applications have been filed across India. According to data compiled from the Central Information Commission (CIC) and various State Information Commissions (SICs), more than 5.5 lakh cases remain pending, even as countless others have been resolved. The CIC alone has around 1.7 lakh pending cases, while state commissions collectively account for over 3.8 lakh cases , reflecting widespread delays across nearly all states and union territories. The highest pendency is reported in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, while smaller states and union territories also struggle with significant backlogs.
Departments with the most RTI cases typically include those dealing with public services, regulatory compliance, and health, such as municipal authorities, health departments, revenue and land records offices, and social welfare departments . The Delhi Health Department, for instance, came under recent scrutiny when information regarding a private hospital was provided to a citizen only eight months after the RTI request, far beyond the statutory 30-day period. The CIC described the delay as “inordinate” and a “serious issue”, issuing a show-cause notice to the responsible Public Information Officer (PIO).
While the law has been transformative, these delays undermine its purpose. Experts attribute the pendency to vacant commissioner posts, limited staffing, and procedural lapses by PIOs and First Appellate Authorities. Recent amendments in 2019, altering tenure and service conditions for Information Commissioners, have further weakened the institutional independence of commissions , affecting their ability to dispose of cases in a timely manner.
Citizens seeking to exercise their right to information can file requests either online or offline. Online applications are accepted through the official RTI portal (https://rtionline.gov.in), where applicants can register, submit requests, pay a nominal fee, and track the status of their applications. Offline applications can be submitted directly to the PIO of the concerned department, with the required fee paid via postal order or cash. If a response is not received within 30 days or is unsatisfactory, citizens may file a first appeal with the department’s First Appellate Authority. Failure to resolve the matter may lead to a second appeal with the CIC or the respective SIC, which has the power to summon hearings and impose penalties of up to ₹25,000 for non-compliance.
Despite the challenges, the RTI Act remains one of India’s most powerful tools for citizen-led accountability, with landmark disclosures in corruption, land allotment, welfare benefits, and public service delivery highlighting its transformative impact. Experts recommend a combination of proactive disclosure by departments, timely appointments of commissioners, enhanced training of PIOs, and strict enforcement of penalties to restore the law’s effectiveness.
As India commemorates 20 years of the RTI Act , the substantial backlog across more than 30 states and union territories serves as a stark reminder that the promise of transparency is only meaningful if enforced. Citizens are urged to make informed use of RTI, following statutory procedures diligently, while the government must ensure that institutional mechanisms function efficiently. The law, after all, is only as strong as its implementation, and the health of Indian democracy depends on a timely, accountable, and transparent government.
Since its inception, millions of RTI applications have been filed across India. According to data compiled from the Central Information Commission (CIC) and various State Information Commissions (SICs), more than 5.5 lakh cases remain pending, even as countless others have been resolved. The CIC alone has around 1.7 lakh pending cases, while state commissions collectively account for over 3.8 lakh cases , reflecting widespread delays across nearly all states and union territories. The highest pendency is reported in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, while smaller states and union territories also struggle with significant backlogs.
Departments with the most RTI cases typically include those dealing with public services, regulatory compliance, and health, such as municipal authorities, health departments, revenue and land records offices, and social welfare departments . The Delhi Health Department, for instance, came under recent scrutiny when information regarding a private hospital was provided to a citizen only eight months after the RTI request, far beyond the statutory 30-day period. The CIC described the delay as “inordinate” and a “serious issue”, issuing a show-cause notice to the responsible Public Information Officer (PIO).
While the law has been transformative, these delays undermine its purpose. Experts attribute the pendency to vacant commissioner posts, limited staffing, and procedural lapses by PIOs and First Appellate Authorities. Recent amendments in 2019, altering tenure and service conditions for Information Commissioners, have further weakened the institutional independence of commissions , affecting their ability to dispose of cases in a timely manner.
Citizens seeking to exercise their right to information can file requests either online or offline. Online applications are accepted through the official RTI portal (https://rtionline.gov.in), where applicants can register, submit requests, pay a nominal fee, and track the status of their applications. Offline applications can be submitted directly to the PIO of the concerned department, with the required fee paid via postal order or cash. If a response is not received within 30 days or is unsatisfactory, citizens may file a first appeal with the department’s First Appellate Authority. Failure to resolve the matter may lead to a second appeal with the CIC or the respective SIC, which has the power to summon hearings and impose penalties of up to ₹25,000 for non-compliance.
Despite the challenges, the RTI Act remains one of India’s most powerful tools for citizen-led accountability, with landmark disclosures in corruption, land allotment, welfare benefits, and public service delivery highlighting its transformative impact. Experts recommend a combination of proactive disclosure by departments, timely appointments of commissioners, enhanced training of PIOs, and strict enforcement of penalties to restore the law’s effectiveness.
As India commemorates 20 years of the RTI Act , the substantial backlog across more than 30 states and union territories serves as a stark reminder that the promise of transparency is only meaningful if enforced. Citizens are urged to make informed use of RTI, following statutory procedures diligently, while the government must ensure that institutional mechanisms function efficiently. The law, after all, is only as strong as its implementation, and the health of Indian democracy depends on a timely, accountable, and transparent government.
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