Kerala State Information Commission has backlog of over 5,000 petitions, reveals RTI query
2 years, 4 months ago

Kerala State Information Commission has backlog of over 5,000 petitions, reveals RTI query

The Hindu  

About 5,280 appeal petitions are pending before the State Information Commission, as per an official reply to information sought under the Right to Information Act for the period between January 1, 2010 and May 31, 2022. The appeals are filed in the Central and State Information Commissions, which act as transparency watchdogs under the Right to Information Act 2005, when a request for information is denied by a government body. Stating that the State Information Commission was the last resort for people seeking information under the RTI Act, Mr. Raju said the delay in clearing the appeal petitions would deny the right of the citizen to get information under the provisions of the Act. Commission’s claim However, SIC sources claimed that the four State Information Commissioners, who assumed office in May 2018, had been clearing the backlog since 2011.

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History of this topic

Ecostani: Why the landmark RTI act is moribund and who is to blame
1 month ago

Ecostani: Why the landmark RTI act is moribund and who is to blame

Hindustan Times  

The only law in India that authorises people to question those in power, the Right To Information Act, has been weakened in several states including those ruled by the Congress, the party that introduced the landmark transparency law in 2005. In many states, state information commissions have been defunct for several years as the information commissioners, who hear the RTI …

SC asks Centre, states for timeline to fill vacancies in information commissions
1 month, 2 weeks ago

SC asks Centre, states for timeline to fill vacancies in information commissions

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Centre and states to provide clear timelines within two weeks for filling vacant posts in central and state information commissions set up under the Right to Information Act after noting that there were huge vacancies at the transparency watchdogs. The Supreme Court was informed that the central information commission had only three …

After RTI Activist Flags Vacancies In Information Commissions, Supreme Court Seeks Data From Centre & States On CIC/SICs
1 month, 2 weeks ago

After RTI Activist Flags Vacancies In Information Commissions, Supreme Court Seeks Data From Centre & States On CIC/SICs

Live Law  

The Supreme Court today called on the Centre and states to furnish data regarding vacancies in Central/State Information Commissions as well as the proposed timelines for appointment of Information Commissioners thereto.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order in a PIL raising the issue of large number of vacancies in information commissions set up under the …

INTERVIEW | Public can seek info even about TN information commission under RTI: SIC commissioner
1 month, 4 weeks ago

INTERVIEW | Public can seek info even about TN information commission under RTI: SIC commissioner

New Indian Express  

MADURAI: The general public can seek information even about the State Information Commission under the RTI Act, said State Information Commissioner S Selvaraj, while speaking to TNIE on Saturday. The state information commission organised an awareness meeting with Public Information Officers at the collectorate, which is when Selvaraj spoke to TNIE. As per the RTI act, each PIOs need to …

6,845 RTI applications and appeals pending with State Information Commission
2 months ago

6,845 RTI applications and appeals pending with State Information Commission

New Indian Express  

THRISSUR : Introduced in 2005 to ensure transparency in governance, the Right to Information Act is considered a powerful tool against corruption, empowering ordinary citizens to question those in power about their actions. According to data, as of August 9, a total of 6,845 RTI applications, including newly filed applications and appeals, are pending in the office of the State …

"Improper": Kerala High Court Pulls Up State Public Service Commission For Destroying Records During Pendency Of RTI Application
5 months, 2 weeks ago

"Improper": Kerala High Court Pulls Up State Public Service Commission For Destroying Records During Pendency Of RTI Application

Live Law  

The Kerala High Court stated that the Kerala Public Service Commission has the power to destroy records in accordance with the Office Manual prescribing record preservation procedures and Rules made under the Kerala Destruction of Records Act. If in such event it is brought to the notice of the State Information Commission that during the pendency of an application for …

Right To Information Act will become a dead letter if...: Supreme Court to Centre
1 year, 2 months ago

Right To Information Act will become a dead letter if...: Supreme Court to Centre

India Today  

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre and state governments to fill vacancies in Information Commissions across the country, saying that if the posts were not filled then the whole purpose of the Right To Information Act would be defeated and the Act would become a "dead letter". "The failure of the state governments to fill the posts of …

Over three lakh appeals and complaints pending with Information Commissions, report finds
1 year, 2 months ago

Over three lakh appeals and complaints pending with Information Commissions, report finds

The Hindu  

A total of 3,21,537 appeals and complaints are pending in 27 State Information Commissions across the country, and the backlog has been steadily increasing, according to a new report. The ‘Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India, 2022-23’ said that the 2019 assessment had found that as of March 31 that year, a total of 2,18,347 appeals/complaints …

Explained | Has the Right to Information been weakened over the years?
1 year, 4 months ago

Explained | Has the Right to Information been weakened over the years?

The Hindu  

For 13 years, the Right to Information Act, 2005, helped citizens obtain information and data from the Government and State institutions that are not readily available in public domain. Amending the RTI Act Apart from allowing certain information to be kept secret for national security and sovereignty reasons, the RTI Act makes one exemption: it prohibits personal data disclosure of …

Punjab & Haryana High Court Issues Directions To RTI Authorities Amid Rise In Cryptic, Non-Speaking Orders
1 year, 4 months ago

Punjab & Haryana High Court Issues Directions To RTI Authorities Amid Rise In Cryptic, Non-Speaking Orders

Live Law  

In a significant ruling, the Punjab & Haryana High Court recently held that authorities including the Appellate Authorities under the Right to Information Act have been passing “cryptic and non-speaking orders” in violation of the judgements of the Supreme Court, High Courts and mandate of the RTI Act.Justice Vikas Bahl thus directed authorities handling appeals under the Right. In a …

RTI Act | Public Information Officer Cannot Challenge Appellate Authority's Order Directing It To Disclose Information: Karnataka High Court
1 year, 8 months ago

RTI Act | Public Information Officer Cannot Challenge Appellate Authority's Order Directing It To Disclose Information: Karnataka High Court

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court has made it clear that under the Right to Information Act, a Public information Officer has no authority to prefer an appeal against an order passed by the Appellate Authority, directing him to furnish information to an applicant under the Act. A single judge bench of Justice N S Sanjay Gowda has said, “There is no …

Jharkhand Information Commission defunct for three years
1 year, 9 months ago

Jharkhand Information Commission defunct for three years

Hindustan Times  

More than 16,000 appeal applications are pending for hearing in Jharkhand Information Commission as the statutory body has been lying defunct for around three years since the last information commissioner, Himanshu Shekhar Chaudhary, retired after completing his term on May 8, 2020. Some of the institutions currently without chairman and members and mentioned in the PIL include state information commission, …

[RTI Act] Second Appeal By PIO Maintainable Even If He Did Not File First Appeal U/S 19(1): Karnataka High Court
1 year, 9 months ago

[RTI Act] Second Appeal By PIO Maintainable Even If He Did Not File First Appeal U/S 19(1): Karnataka High Court

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court has set aside the order passed by the Karnataka State Information Commissioner dismissing the second appeal filed by Public Information Officer, on the ground that the petitioner being the PIO cannot maintain the second appeal under Section 19 of the Right to Information Act. The counsel for the petitioner had contended that the second appeal under …

Over 22,000 Second Appeals, Complaints Pending with CIC: Govt in Rajya Sabha
2 years ago

Over 22,000 Second Appeals, Complaints Pending with CIC: Govt in Rajya Sabha

News 18  

Over 22,000 second appeals and complaints were pending with the Central Information Commission as on December 5, 2022, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. Section 8 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 provides that it is not obligatory for public information officers to give any information to citizens which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has …

India is losing its cherished right to know
2 years, 1 month ago

India is losing its cherished right to know

The Hindu  

The most vital mandate of the Central Information Commission, the apex body under India’s transparency regime, is to decide whether certain information sought by a citizen ought to be disclosed or not. Until the 2019 amendment to the RTI Act, Information Commissioners appointed to the CIC were equal in status to the Chief Election Commissioner, and that of a Supreme …

‘CBI Exempt from RTI Act’: Kerala High Court Upholds Single-Judge Bench’s Order
2 years, 2 months ago

‘CBI Exempt from RTI Act’: Kerala High Court Upholds Single-Judge Bench’s Order

News 18  

Upholding the order of a single-judge bench, a division bench of the Kerala High Court held that the Central Bureau Investigation is not liable to furnish information under the Right to Information Act as it is included in the second schedule of the Act, which exempts security organisations established by the Central Government. The Assistant Solicitor General argued that orders …

CBI Not Liable To Furnish Information Under RTI Act, Exempted U/S 24: Kerala High Court
2 years, 2 months ago

CBI Not Liable To Furnish Information Under RTI Act, Exempted U/S 24: Kerala High Court

Live Law  

The Kerala High Court recently observed that the Central Bureau of Investigation is not liable to furnish any information sought under the RTI Act, as it is included in the second schedule in contemplation of Section 24 of the RTI Act which exempts certain organisations from the Act.As per Section 24 of the RTI Act, the Act shall not apply …

S.18 RTI Act Does Not Empower State Commission To Direct PIO To Furnish Information Sought: Kerala High Court
2 years, 2 months ago

S.18 RTI Act Does Not Empower State Commission To Direct PIO To Furnish Information Sought: Kerala High Court

Live Law  

The Kerala High Court has held that when a complaint is filed before the State Information Commission under Section 18 of the Right to Information Act for illegal denial of information, it may impose a penalty on the errant Public Information Officer. The Kerala High Court, in a 2014 decision, held that when an application made for information as provided …

Data | Unfilled vacancies, stagnant workforce delay RTI replies and appeals
2 years, 2 months ago

Data | Unfilled vacancies, stagnant workforce delay RTI replies and appeals

The Hindu  

Data show that the number of information officers and first appellate authorities in the Central government has remained stagnant in the last few years. A report released in October by the Satark Nagrik Sangathan, titled ‘Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India, 2021-22’, states that the number of appeals and complaints pending before the Central and State …

Three lakh and counting: RTI pleas pile up at information commissions
2 years, 2 months ago

Three lakh and counting: RTI pleas pile up at information commissions

The Hindu  

A good 17 years after India got the Right to Information Act, the transparency regime in the country remains a mirage with nearly 3.15 lakh complaints or appeals pending with 26 information commissions across India. 2 completely defunct The report says two out of 29 information commissions across the country are completely defunct, four of them headless at the moment …

Whether Govt Aided Educational Institutions Run By Societies Are Subject To RTI Act? Karnataka HC Asks State Information Commission To Decide
2 years, 4 months ago

Whether Govt Aided Educational Institutions Run By Societies Are Subject To RTI Act? Karnataka HC Asks State Information Commission To Decide

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Information Commission to decide whether societies and educational institutions run by the societies are subject to Right to Information Act, 2005. The Court was hearing a couple of writ petitions filed by Maland Technical Education Society, seeking to set aside the State Commission's order passed in 2014 which had brought the petitioner …

RTI Act | Information Commission Can't Turn Blind Eye To Culpable Delay In Furnishing Info By PIO: Karnataka High Court Imposes Penalty
2 years, 5 months ago

RTI Act | Information Commission Can't Turn Blind Eye To Culpable Delay In Furnishing Info By PIO: Karnataka High Court Imposes Penalty

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court recently observed that the Information Commission cannot let the undue delay caused by a Public Information Officer in furnishing information as sought for under the Right to Education Act, go unpunished.Leaving the culpable delay to go with impunity strikes at the root of law, a single judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit said.The court was …

Over 32,000 RTI appeals pending with Central Information Commission: Govt.
3 years ago

Over 32,000 RTI appeals pending with Central Information Commission: Govt.

The Hindu  

More than 32,000 RTI appeals are pending with the Central Information Commission, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. In a written reply, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said there was a pendency of 35,178 and 38,116 RTI appeals during 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. Mr. Singh said the government has taken several steps like capacity building through training …

State Information Commission defunct for 14 months in Congress-ruled Jharkhand
3 years, 5 months ago

State Information Commission defunct for 14 months in Congress-ruled Jharkhand

Hindustan Times  

Chandramohan Paswan, a resident of Hazaribag district in Jharkhand, was in Ranchi for some work this week. He took out time to visit the Jharkhand State Information Commission office on Wednesday to enquire about the status of the appeal he filed seeking information related to the allotment of a gas agency in Bermo town in Bokaro district. State Information Commission …

‘Ill-treated’ RTI applicant to file writ petition against SIC
3 years, 11 months ago

‘Ill-treated’ RTI applicant to file writ petition against SIC

Deccan Chronicle  

JAGTIAL: Secretary of Council for Citizens Rights Tummanapelly Jaya Prakash has alleged that in violation of the provisions under Right to Information Act, the State Information Commission behaved in a negligent manner when a disabled applicant sought information. Prakash, a resident of Ailapur village in Kuratla mandal sought details of land records in the tahsildar’s office Korutla in September, 2018 …

CIC Dismisses Appeal Against Non-Disclosure Of Information Sought From SC Regarding 38 Petitions In Aadhaar Case
4 years, 1 month ago

CIC Dismisses Appeal Against Non-Disclosure Of Information Sought From SC Regarding 38 Petitions In Aadhaar Case

Live Law  

The Central Information Commission has dismissed an appeal filed by an RTI Applicant against non-disclosure of the information sought about the decisions taken in 38 petitions disposed by the Supreme Court in Aadhaar judgment.The Commission said that the judgment titled Justice K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India comprises of collective decision for the entire batch of 38 petitions,. The …

Paralysis In Hearing Of RTI Appeals Without Chiefs & With Increasing Vacancies
4 years, 2 months ago

Paralysis In Hearing Of RTI Appeals Without Chiefs & With Increasing Vacancies

Live Law  

The Right to Information Act has completed its 15 years of truncated existence on 12th October 2020, with several empty Commissions, especially Commissions without 'heads', resulting in high increase in pending appeals and extending period of delay in delivery of decisions. When I was in CIC as one of the ten Commissioners, I had the experience of facing lack of …

Govt denies info on Chief Information Commissioner applicants
4 years, 2 months ago

Govt denies info on Chief Information Commissioner applicants

The Hindu  

The Department of Personnel and Training has received 139 applications for the post of Chief Information Commissioner, which has been vacant for almost two months. However, it has denied a Right to Information request seeking further details about the candidates, the search committee members and the short-listing criteria, despite a Supreme Court order directing the government to make such information …

Key posts vacant as RTI law completes 15 years
4 years, 2 months ago

Key posts vacant as RTI law completes 15 years

Hindustan Times  

Around one-third of information commissions in India are headless, one-fourth of information commission posts are lying vacant and in Jharkhand and Tripura, the commissions are defunct, two reports on 15 years of the Right To Information law said on Monday. In these 15 years, around 33 million RTI applications were filed with various government departments across the country, said Transparency …

Only 9 Out of 29 Information Commissions Conducted RTI Hearings Since Lockdown: Report
4 years, 2 months ago

Only 9 Out of 29 Information Commissions Conducted RTI Hearings Since Lockdown: Report

News 18  

Only nine information commissions, including the central panel, out of the total 29 in the country conducted hearings of RTI applicants since the lockdown was imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by the Transparency International India on Sunday. According to the group, only five state information commissions maintain data about such threats and attacks while no such …

At 15, RTI Act crippled by rising backlog
4 years, 2 months ago

At 15, RTI Act crippled by rising backlog

The Hindu  

Fifteen years after the Right to Information Act came into force, more than 2.2 lakh cases are pending at the Central and State Information Commissions, which are the final courts of appeal under the transparency law. Out of almost 90,000 cases disposed of by the 16 commissions between April 2019 to July 2020, show cause notices were issued in more …

[Denial Of Info. Under RTI] 'Take Action Against Officer Under RTI Act Who Acted In A Callous Manner ', Gujarat HC Directs SIC [Read Order]
4 years, 3 months ago

[Denial Of Info. Under RTI] 'Take Action Against Officer Under RTI Act Who Acted In A Callous Manner ', Gujarat HC Directs SIC [Read Order]

Live Law  

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday directed the State Information Commissioner to initiate proceedings under Section 20 of the Right to Information Act. Kogje observed, "The Court is of the view that this is a fit case where the proceedings under Section 20 of the Right to Information Act needs to be initiated in view of non-compliance of the order …

Public Information Officers Who Mechanically Reject RTI Applications Should Be Shown The Doors, Says Madras HC [Read Order]
4 years, 4 months ago

Public Information Officers Who Mechanically Reject RTI Applications Should Be Shown The Doors, Says Madras HC [Read Order]

Live Law  

Public Information Officers who mechanically reject the RTI Applications should be shown the doors as they are unfit to hold the said post, said the Madras High Court recently.Justice S. Vaidyanathan observed thus while dismissing a writ petition filed by Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission which sought to quash an order passed by Tamil Nadu Information Commission directing it to …

Provide Clear, Cogent, Precise & Timely Response To RTI Applications, CIC Tells Department Of Justice [Read Order]
4 years, 5 months ago

Provide Clear, Cogent, Precise & Timely Response To RTI Applications, CIC Tells Department Of Justice [Read Order]

Live Law  

The Central Information Commission has instructed the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice to provide a clear, cogent and precise response to the RTI application.Venkatesh Nayak had filed an RTI seeking photocopy of the request sent by the Government of India to Chief Justices of High Courts for ensuring due consideration to be given to suitable candidates belonging …

CCTV/Webcasting Footage Of Polling Booths Accessible Under RTI Act: Kerala State Information Commission [Read Order]
4 years, 10 months ago

CCTV/Webcasting Footage Of Polling Booths Accessible Under RTI Act: Kerala State Information Commission [Read Order]

Live Law  

The Kerala State Information Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala to provide video footage of polling booths recorded during 2019 General Elections within 20 days free of cost to an applicant under the Right to Information Act.The order was filed in an appeal filed by RTI activist Advocate D B Binu against the refusal of Public Information …

Over 33,000 appeals, complaints pending in CIC, says Jitendra Singh
5 years, 1 month ago

Over 33,000 appeals, complaints pending in CIC, says Jitendra Singh

The Hindu  

Over 33,000 complaints and appeals are pending with the Central Information Commission, the Lok Sabha was informed on December 4. “As far as Central Information Commission is concerned, 33,487 number of second appeals/complaints are pending as on November 28, 2019,” Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. He said the government has started a web …

Clear pendency of cases, improve training quality: RTI activists appeal to government
5 years, 1 month ago

Clear pendency of cases, improve training quality: RTI activists appeal to government

The Hindu  

As the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government assumes charge, Right to Information activists have put forth a list of their demands to shore up the efficacy of the RTI Act. While former Chief Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi has written a letter to the Chief Minister regarding the massive pendency of RTI cases and the need to appoint more information …

RTI Activists Move SC To Implement Directions On Appointment Of Information Commissioners [Read Application]
5 years, 2 months ago

RTI Activists Move SC To Implement Directions On Appointment Of Information Commissioners [Read Application]

Live Law  

An application has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions for the timely and transparent appointment of Chief and Information Commissioners of the Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions in order to secure the fundamental Right to Information and the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005. On February 15, 2019, the Supreme Court had issued …

Kerala HC Issues Notice On Plea Challenging RTI Amendment Act 2019 [Read Petition]
5 years, 4 months ago

Kerala HC Issues Notice On Plea Challenging RTI Amendment Act 2019 [Read Petition]

Live Law  

The High Court of Kerala on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre on a plea challenging the vires of the Right to Information Act 2019. Lawyer and RTI Activist, D. B. Binu, has challenged the constitutionality of the amended Sections 13, 16 and 27 of the Act in as much as they prescribe that the term, salaries, allowances and conditions …

The tremor of unwelcome amendments to the RTI Act
5 years, 5 months ago

The tremor of unwelcome amendments to the RTI Act

The Hindu  

“Amendments” have haunted the Right to Information community ever since the RTI Act came into effect almost 14 years ago. In the form of the Right to Information Bill, 2019, they seek to amend Sections 13, 16, and 27 of the RTI Act which carefully links, and thereby equates, the status of the Central Information Commissioners with the Election Commissioners …

RTI Act: Stick to deadlines, PIOs told
5 years, 6 months ago

RTI Act: Stick to deadlines, PIOs told

Deccan Chronicle  

Thanjavur: The State Information Commissioner R. Pratap Kumar warned Public Information Officers that they would be punished if they do not give information to people who seek information under the Right to Information Act within 30 days of receiving the petition. Speaking at a meeting to create awareness about the act and its provisions and rules to be followed in …

CIC appointment needn’t be confined to bureaucrats, says Supreme Court
5 years, 10 months ago

CIC appointment needn’t be confined to bureaucrats, says Supreme Court

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said that the appointment of the Central Information Commissioner and information commissioners at the central and state levels need not be confined to bureaucrats and should be completed within six months. The process should start two months before vacancies come up and if the process for pending vacancies has already started, it should …

Central Info Commissioner Should Have The Status Of Chief Election Commissioner; Do Not Select Bureaucrats Only For The Post: SC
5 years, 10 months ago

Central Info Commissioner Should Have The Status Of Chief Election Commissioner; Do Not Select Bureaucrats Only For The Post: SC

Live Law  

The Supreme Court today issued a slew of directives regarding the filling up of vacancies in Central and State Information Commissions under Right To Information Act.The key directions passed by the bench of Justices A K Sikri and Abdul Nazeer are :Chief Information Commissioner should have the status of Chief Election CommissionersInformation Commissioners should not be just bureaucrats,. The Supreme …

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