logo
Maha CIC pushes for transparency, mandates online reply to RTI applications

Maha CIC pushes for transparency, mandates online reply to RTI applications

Time of India16-05-2025

Pune: State's chief information commissioner (CIC) Rahul Pande has issued a directive to public authorities for proactive disclosure of all RTI applications and replies on department websites with keyword-searchable access for the public to enhance transparency, and reduce the backlog of appeals and complaints.
"The directive, issued under sections 19(8){a}[iii] and 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005, aims to tackle nearly one lakh pending cases — 79,312 appeals and 18,186 complaints — by promoting voluntary transparency and reducing repetitive filings," Pande told TOI on Monday
"The preamble of the RTI Act speaks of citizen empowerment, transparency, accountability and the reduction of corruption. This directive is aimed at operationalising that vision," he said.
Pande said the chief secretary had been directed to circulate the new order to all govt departments to ensure compliance.
The State Information Commission (SIC) highlighted a 2013 circular of the department of personnel and training (DoPT), advising all public authorities to publish RTI requests and responses to strengthen the transparency mandate of Section 4 of the act.
He said, "By publishing RTI replies online in a searchable format, we can eliminate the need for multiple applications seeking the same information.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here]
Esseps
Learn More
Undo
This is a crucial step towards empowering citizens and ensuring govt accountability. The departments are expected to work towards it."
Besides technological upgrades to ensure an easy process, Pande emphasised the need for institutional reform in all departments. He said several departments were burdened with RTI requests and many of these were duplicates because of the unavailability of earlier replies in the public domain.
The latest directive urged departments to publish all RTI data barring exempted matters and ensure it was accessible without formal applications.
The SIC instructed the departments to address all appeals and complaints through both online and offline hearings to expedite their disposal. "Clearance will be done from old to new, ensuring no second appeal or complaint is left behind," Pande said.
He said for the first time all the seven posts of information commissioners had been filled up.
"All the commissioners are trying to dispose of cases at the earliest. There are cases pending since 2019," he said.
Pande acknowledged that 18 posts across seven information commissions and the main office in the state were still vacant. "We are not receiving enough applicants despite advertising," he said, hinting at administrative bottlenecks.
He also warned against the misuse of the RTI Act. "Those filing RTI applications with the intent to blackmail or harass officials will face strict action," Pande said.
(FOR GRAPHIC)
HL: DECISIONS PENDING
18,186 RTI complaints are pending
79,312 appeals are pending
Office Complaints pending Appeals pending
Mumbai main office 3,099 19,554
BMC area 2,745 5,152
Konkan 4,236 7,870
Pune 3,741 7,916
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar 274 8,225
Nashik 1,087 13,277
Nagpur 1,110 5,189
Amravati 1,894 12,129

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Brooms, not bars: Manipur cops' move for ‘misguided youths'
Brooms, not bars: Manipur cops' move for ‘misguided youths'

Time of India

time40 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Brooms, not bars: Manipur cops' move for ‘misguided youths'

1 2 Imphal: In a novel twist to conventional policing, Manipur Police have traded handcuffs for brooms and shovels, initiating a 'community service' programme for dozens of youths detained in various districts of the valley during violent protests since June 7. This unique approach follows the unrest which was witnessed on the streets after the arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan Singh and four associates during a joint operation of Manipur Police and the CBI as he was wanted in several cases. During the protests, people demanded unconditional release of Singh and others, leading to a 10-day bandh called by Arambai Tenggol, which was eventually called off on Tuesday. Instead of facing formal charges that could mar their futures, over three dozen young people found themselves on the streets, not as rioters, but as cleaners. Leveraging the innovative provisions of the recently introduced Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Manipur Police handed them the tools of civic duty — brooms and shovels — to clear the very roadblocks, burnt tyres and concrete debris they or others had created during the protests. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo This unconventional move, police officials said, was a deliberate choice to safeguard the careers of these 'misguided youths'. By invoking Section 4(f) of the BNSS, which advises community service for first-time offenders involved in minor misconduct, authorities are offering a path to rehabilitation rather than punitive measures. Widely shared photos and videos show these young people in custody sweeping the roads and cleaning up the mess left over from the three-day protest, creating a powerful picture of justice balanced with a touch of civic duty. The unrest that preceded this unusual policing method was significant. On June 7, widespread agitation erupted across various valley districts following the arrest of Singh, a dismissed head constable of Manipur Police. The accused is wanted in several cases, including the Feb 27, 2024, attack by armed Arambai Tenggol members on the residence of Imphal West additional superintendent of police (operations) Moirangthem Amit. Investigations are also underway into his alleged involvement in drug mafia, vandalising offices belonging to the deputy inspector general (DIG) and inspector general (IG), an attack on the 1st Manipur Rifles and arms smuggling. PTI

Maheshtala clash: Cops hurt, govt vehicles set afire in West Bengal violence
Maheshtala clash: Cops hurt, govt vehicles set afire in West Bengal violence

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Maheshtala clash: Cops hurt, govt vehicles set afire in West Bengal violence

KOLKATA: Five policemen, including DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai , were injured and two govt vehicles were damaged and a bike was set ablaze when cops tried to stop clashes in the Rabindranagar-Akra near Maheshtala on Wednesday. Police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas to rein in the situation. Till the last report came in, police continued raids and rounded up four persons. Route marches were also being held. The root of the problem, according to locals, could be traced to a "hurried construction of a tulsi mancha" at a spot, where a member of a minority community used to have a shop. The trader was away for Eid. But the other group alleged the shop was on an encroached land, which belonged to a local temple. Before the administration could mitigate, the two groups started protesting, which snowballed into violence and roadblocks. The mob then targeted police. Around 10 am, a crowd started building near the Rabindranagar Police Station. Between 2 pm and 2.30 pm, the mob suddenly attacked police, who were heavily outnumbered. The mob pelted cops with stones till additional forces arrived and they charged back. But as the unrelenting mob kept growing in number, police resorted to lathicharge and could finally disperse the crowd from the spot around 3.30 pm. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo But the mob headed towards Santoshpur level crossing and moved into the Nadial Police Station area under Kolkata Police. Another clash broke out around 4.30 pm, with the mob attacking KP cops, including the DC (port) Rai. Cops, in riot gear, formed smaller teams, each led by a senior officer. The police teams reportedly chased the protesters, lathicharged some and lobbed tear gas shells. The situation was brought to normalcy by around 6 pm. Armed battalions and RAF conducted route marches along a 3km radius between Santoshpur Rail Bridge and Rabindranagar PS. Kolkata Police commissioner Manoj Varma and ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar camped at the spot during this operation. Later, Varma met DCP Pai at a nursing home in Kolkata. "The situation is peaceful now. Raids are on. Four persons have so far been arrested. The injured cops' condition is stable," said a senior officer late at night. Police did not issue any statement. Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, condemning the incident, said despite being attacked, police handled the situation "firmly but with sensitivity". Ghosh, criticising Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari's comments, said, "Untoward incidents do take place. It happens everywhere. But what should our role be, to inflame it or act responsibly?" Adhikari, who staged a protest outside Bhawani Bhawan, demanded CAPF deployment. "The Calcutta High Court's CAPF deployment order (in Murshidabad) can also be implemented here," he said, indicating he might move court.

In precision strike era, war has no front or rear: CISC Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
In precision strike era, war has no front or rear: CISC Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

In precision strike era, war has no front or rear: CISC Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

New Delhi: The lesson from India's Operation Sindoor that took down terror targets in Pakistan is that long-range precision-guided munitions like the Brahmos and Scalp have rendered geographical barriers meaningless and the side that sees the farthest and with most accuracy prevails, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) said on Wednesday. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who is responsible for coordinating inter-service activities, said that modern technology has fundamentally changed the battlefield as has been evident in recent conflicts, including the Indian cross-border strikes. " Modern warfare , thanks to technology, has fundamentally altered the relationship between distance and vulnerability. Today, precision-guided munitions like Scalp and Brahmos have rendered geographical barriers almost meaningless," the senior officer said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo He added that it can be seen from global conflicts like the Armenia-Azerbaijan war, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas fight and India's own experience in the recent strike that "the side that sees first, sees farthest and sees most accurately, prevails". The officer said that with weapons demonstrating the ability to strike hundreds of kilometers away with pinpoint accuracy, the traditional concepts of a battle front, rear, flanks and combat zones have become irrelevant and the war zone has merged into a combined theatre. Live Events "This new reality demands that we extend our surveillance envelope far beyond what the previous generation could have even imagined. We must detect, identify and track potential threats, not when they approach our borders, but when they are still in their staging areas, airfields and bases, deep within their own territory," he said. This also reflects the Op Sindoor war fighting strategy with Pakistan in which airfields deep within its territory were disabled by long-range air-to-ground missiles , rendering it difficult for Pakistani forces to mount an aerial strike on India. Over the past few years, India has been investing heavily in stand off weapons like long-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface munitions and a range of missiles that are capable of taking down a target anywhere on Pakistani territory.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store