Maharashtra RTI: Deadline Without Punishment = Right Without Power
The Issue
# Make RTI Work in Maharashtra: Information Delayed is Information Denied
## Decision Makers
- Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra
- Maharashtra State Information Commission
- Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
## The Issue
The Right to Information Act, 2005 was meant to make government transparent. In Maharashtra, however, many ordinary citizens still struggle to obtain the information they are legally entitled to receive.
Filing an RTI application is easy. Getting the actual information can take months or even years. Citizens file first appeals, attend hearings, travel to offices and repeatedly follow up — only to be told that their appeal has been "disposed of" without receiving the documents they requested.
Even after the Information Commission orders information to be released, many citizens still struggle to obtain it. A compliance report may be treated as proof of compliance, even when the citizen has not actually received the information.
Information Delayed is Information Denied. Information Ordered but Never Delivered is Justice Denied.
## What Must Change
We call on the Government of Maharashtra and the State Information Commission to address these failures:
1. Enforce the First Appeal deadline. Ensure decisions are made within 30 days under Section 19(6), or within the extended period of up to 45 days where reasons are recorded. Unjustified delays must lead to accountability.
2. Verify actual delivery of information. Closing an appeal is not the same as the citizen receiving the documents ordered. Verify that complete information has actually been delivered.
3. Provide compensation to citizens. Use the Commission's existing powers under Section 19(8)(b) to compensate citizens for genuine losses or other hardship caused by violations of the Act.
4. Hold officers accountable through appropriate departmental action where they fail to attend Information Commission hearings without valid reasons.
5. Create an integrated statewide RTI tracking system. Connect applications, first and second appeals, complaints, hearings, written submissions, orders, penalty proceedings, and post-order compliance through a single tracking ID. The system should show whether a penalty ordered against a PIO under Section 20 has actually been recovered from the officer's salary, because a penalty that is never collected is no deterrent.
6. Implement the 29 April 2025 direction. Establish a searchable public database of RTI questions and answers, subject to lawful exemptions and privacy protections.
7. Implement Monday record inspection properly. Enforce the Government's 26 November 2018 circular in all covered offices and clearly display inspection timings and procedures for citizens.
8. Make Commission orders searchable and accessible. Publish text-readable, searchable orders instead of relying only on scanned documents.
9. Provide online hearings. Enable video hearings so citizens, particularly those living far from Commission offices, do not have to bear unnecessary travel expenses.
10. Protect RTI applicants and whistle-blowers. Establish an effective mechanism to address genuine threats, intimidation, harassment and retaliatory complaints against citizens who expose public wrongdoing.
11. Publish frequently requested information proactively. Implement Section 4 of the RTI Act so citizens can access commonly requested information without repeatedly filing RTI applications.
12. Establish Taluka-level RTI Monitoring Committees. Include civil society representatives and experienced RTI activists to monitor implementation, identify problems and submit periodic reports to the appropriate authorities.
13. Publish a department-wise list of public records. Direct every government department to publish an updated list clearly identifying: (a) documents that must be proactively disclosed under Section 4(1)(b); (b) categories of documents ordinarily available through RTI applications; and (c) categories of records relating to public expenditure, misuse of authority, and corruption that may be disclosed in the public interest under Section 8(2). This will ensure clarity, prevent arbitrary denial, and make access to government records easier for every citizen.
## Our Appeal
We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the law to be implemented, public authorities to be accountable and every citizen's right to information to be respected.
An RTI application should not become the beginning of years of appeals, hearings and follow-ups. An order of the Information Commission must result in actual delivery of information.
Sign this petition. Support a transparent and accountable Maharashtra.
8
The Issue
# Make RTI Work in Maharashtra: Information Delayed is Information Denied
## Decision Makers
- Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra
- Maharashtra State Information Commission
- Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
## The Issue
The Right to Information Act, 2005 was meant to make government transparent. In Maharashtra, however, many ordinary citizens still struggle to obtain the information they are legally entitled to receive.
Filing an RTI application is easy. Getting the actual information can take months or even years. Citizens file first appeals, attend hearings, travel to offices and repeatedly follow up — only to be told that their appeal has been "disposed of" without receiving the documents they requested.
Even after the Information Commission orders information to be released, many citizens still struggle to obtain it. A compliance report may be treated as proof of compliance, even when the citizen has not actually received the information.
Information Delayed is Information Denied. Information Ordered but Never Delivered is Justice Denied.
## What Must Change
We call on the Government of Maharashtra and the State Information Commission to address these failures:
1. Enforce the First Appeal deadline. Ensure decisions are made within 30 days under Section 19(6), or within the extended period of up to 45 days where reasons are recorded. Unjustified delays must lead to accountability.
2. Verify actual delivery of information. Closing an appeal is not the same as the citizen receiving the documents ordered. Verify that complete information has actually been delivered.
3. Provide compensation to citizens. Use the Commission's existing powers under Section 19(8)(b) to compensate citizens for genuine losses or other hardship caused by violations of the Act.
4. Hold officers accountable through appropriate departmental action where they fail to attend Information Commission hearings without valid reasons.
5. Create an integrated statewide RTI tracking system. Connect applications, first and second appeals, complaints, hearings, written submissions, orders, penalty proceedings, and post-order compliance through a single tracking ID. The system should show whether a penalty ordered against a PIO under Section 20 has actually been recovered from the officer's salary, because a penalty that is never collected is no deterrent.
6. Implement the 29 April 2025 direction. Establish a searchable public database of RTI questions and answers, subject to lawful exemptions and privacy protections.
7. Implement Monday record inspection properly. Enforce the Government's 26 November 2018 circular in all covered offices and clearly display inspection timings and procedures for citizens.
8. Make Commission orders searchable and accessible. Publish text-readable, searchable orders instead of relying only on scanned documents.
9. Provide online hearings. Enable video hearings so citizens, particularly those living far from Commission offices, do not have to bear unnecessary travel expenses.
10. Protect RTI applicants and whistle-blowers. Establish an effective mechanism to address genuine threats, intimidation, harassment and retaliatory complaints against citizens who expose public wrongdoing.
11. Publish frequently requested information proactively. Implement Section 4 of the RTI Act so citizens can access commonly requested information without repeatedly filing RTI applications.
12. Establish Taluka-level RTI Monitoring Committees. Include civil society representatives and experienced RTI activists to monitor implementation, identify problems and submit periodic reports to the appropriate authorities.
13. Publish a department-wise list of public records. Direct every government department to publish an updated list clearly identifying: (a) documents that must be proactively disclosed under Section 4(1)(b); (b) categories of documents ordinarily available through RTI applications; and (c) categories of records relating to public expenditure, misuse of authority, and corruption that may be disclosed in the public interest under Section 8(2). This will ensure clarity, prevent arbitrary denial, and make access to government records easier for every citizen.
## Our Appeal
We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the law to be implemented, public authorities to be accountable and every citizen's right to information to be respected.
An RTI application should not become the beginning of years of appeals, hearings and follow-ups. An order of the Information Commission must result in actual delivery of information.
Sign this petition. Support a transparent and accountable Maharashtra.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 8 November 2026