Negligence of senior officials towards ‘Right to Information’, Public authorities also indifferent

Maharashtra State Information Commission expresses regret

Mumbai – The rate of delegating the work of the posts of ‘Public Information Officer’ and ‘Appellate Authority’ to junior employees is increasing in the State. Senior officers are getting out of this responsibility to a large extent. This has been reported in the previous report as well and there has been no significant improvement in this situation. The State Information Commission has expressed regret that there is apathy towards information applications and first appeals even among the public authorities in the State. The Maharashtra State Information Commission presented its 18th Annual Report for the year 2023 in the Legislative Assembly on July 3rd.

The State Information Commission has also expressed regret that while insufficient staffing and inadequate office facilities naturally affect the disposal of pending appeals, the appeals are still not being processed satisfactorily and adequately at the level of the first appellate authorities.

In the year 2023, 8 lakh 60 thousand 641 applications were received in the State under the Right to Information. The total number of applications received in the year 2023 was 9 lakh 31 thousand 814, including the previous balance of 71 thousand 173. Out of these, 8 lakh 55 thousand 661 applications were disposed of in the year 2023. The State Information Commission has also expressed regret in this report about the filing of multiple applications by a single applicant, as well as seeking more information in a single application.

90 out of 138 posts vacant

A total of 138 posts are sanctioned for the State Information Commission, excluding the State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioner; however, 90 of these posts are vacant. Only 48 posts of the Information Commission have been filled.