Two decades after the enactment of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, serious questions are now being raised about its ground-level implementation in Maharashtra.
Navi Mumbai-based Sajag Nagrik Manch has submitted a formal demand to the state’s Chief Secretary and State Information Commissioner, calling for a high-level, state-wide inquiry into the effectiveness of the RTI Act's implementation.
The organisation has also strongly urged the government to urgently overhaul the technical and procedural shortcomings of the state’s online RTI portal.
In its detailed representation, the Manch has pointed out that while the RTI Act was intended as a landmark legislation to strengthen democracy, its execution has been increasingly undermined by government agencies. Despite the existence of a functioning online system, the portal is riddled with problems including language limitations, technical errors during application tracking, and difficulties in uploading documents.
The forum has alleged that, in its current form, the portal functions merely as a “postman,” forwarding applications to departments without any accountability or follow-up. “There is no mechanism to ensure action is taken once the application is forwarded to the concerned department,” the Manch stated.
Highlighting a disturbing trend, the organisation claimed that rejecting RTI applications has unofficially become government policy across state departments, district collectors’ offices, police commissionerates, and even local self-governing bodies. The state’s official RTI portal, it added, is no exception.
To bring transparency and assess the actual implementation of the RTI Act, the Manch has called for a factual audit of the state’s online RTI portal for the last three years — including the number of applications received, responses issued within the stipulated time, appeals filed, and pending cases.
The group further warned against growing misuse of the Act for blackmail and called on the government to introduce reforms. Among its key suggestions is mandating that all responses to RTI applications whether filed online or offline be provided strictly through the online system. This, it said, would bring greater transparency and accountability.
“Many departments, from village panchayats to the Mantralaya, are deliberately attempting to malign the RTI Act,” the memorandum stated, adding that corruption thrives in secrecy and the demand for transparency has made RTI a ‘nuisance’ for many within the system.
To curb repetitive requests and reduce time wastage, the Manch also suggested that civic bodies, CIDCO, MHADA, and other state corporations should be required to proactively upload key information about their operations on their official websites.
Quoting RTI activist and Sajag Nagrik Manch convener Sudhir Dani, the memorandum read:
“Maharashtra, a state known for its technological advancement, must fully digitise the RTI process. From filing applications to providing responses if everything is done online, it will make government systems more accountable, reduce misuse, and truly fulfill the RTI Act’s aim of establishing a transparent administration.”
