Maharashtra quietly amends its RTI Rules

**natarajan.k** · 03-31-2012, 01:58 AM

Members,
Going to meet leader of opposition and present the point of amendment in RTI act on behalf of all the RTI activists and request him to have a debate in the ongoing assembly in maharashtra. If any members want to join me for the meeting, send me a private message.

**digal** · 03-31-2012, 09:48 AM

Sponsorer

Originally Posted by natarajan.k

Members,
Going to meet leader of opposition and present the point of amendment in RTI act on behalf of all the RTI activists and request him to have a debate in the ongoing assembly in maharashtra. If any members want to join me for the meeting, send me a private message.

Great!, Pl. do it.
Today they set for 150 words, tomorrow may amend to 150 characters....These demagogues suffocate the very cause of RTI. They amend even without a discussion! What is happening to the elected representatives?

**karira** · 03-31-2012, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by aslamkhan

can we ask U/S 4(1)(d) of the RTI Act 2005 to the Governor of Maharashtra about this decision?

Governor has nothing to do with this. It is the GAD - the nodal department for RTI in Maharashtra.
You can file a RTI application (under Sec 6(1)) and ask for a inspection of the entire file.

**dr.s.malhotra** · 03-31-2012, 10:39 AM

Is the Govt / Framing Department not required to put the public on notice that they intend to make so and so amendments and to seek objections and suggestions from the affected public ?
The Notification can be challenged in the High Court if the Govt refuses to take back the notification .
This is deplorable .

**karira** · 03-31-2012, 11:13 AM

As reported by Ashutosh Shukla in dnaindia.com on 31 March 2012:
Activists see red over Maharashtra govt move to amend RTI rules - Mumbai - DNA

Activists see red over Maharashtra govt move to amend RTI rules

As more and more scams come tumbling out of the closet by the day, courtesy the Right to Information (RTI), the Maharashtra government has made a move to amend RTI rules.

As per a notification, dated January 16, which is floating around on emails, an applicant can ask questions only on a single subject matter and his application cannot exceed 150 words. Besides, during inspection, a person can carry only a pencil along with him.

Say, for instance, you have filed an RTI application with the building proposal department. If a part of the reply involves the building construction department as well, chances are that the authorities may ask you to file a separate RTI application.

RTI activists in the city have dubbed this move an “absolute breach of trust”. The clause of the ‘single subject matter’, in particular, has left them worried. “It was done only to scuttle the RTI Act. They did not even bother to tell us,” , alleged RTI activist Krishnaraj Rao. “Instead of appointing commissioners, the government is more interested in destroying the Act,” said GR Vora, who has started a signature campaign against the move.

“Many scams have come out of the closet of the government. This is being done only to hide them,” alleged Bhaskar Prabhu, another RTI activist. VK Sampat, an advocate, also slammed the move.

Nandukmar Jantre, former under-secretary, general administration department, confimed having prepared the notification. “It was cleared by the CM in January,” said Jantre.

Each state is allowed to make rules to ensure the smooth functioning of the RTI Act, 2005.