Maharashtra quietly amends its RTI Rules

**karira** · 03-30-2012, 05:30 PM

On 16 Jan 2012 and 30 Jan 2012, Maharashtra quietly amended the RTI Rules.

1. RTI application only 150 words
2. RTI application on one single subject matter
3. During "inspection", applicant only allowed to carry pencil

The Gazette notifications are attached to this post.

**Atul Patankar** · 03-30-2012, 06:15 PM

Sponsorer

Copied from email received from Krishnaraj Rao, a leading activist from Mumbai

30 March 2012, Mumbai: There has been a startling breach of trust and public confidence by Govt of Maharashtra. Without any public debate, the government has quietly notified an amendment to Maharashtra RTI Rules on 16th January 2012. See Notified Maharashtra RTI Rules Amendment Jan 2012.pdf - File Shared from Box - Free Online File Storage

Shockingly, we did not even learn this from any government source such as a public notice in the dailies. Nor was it told to any RTI activist – many of whom are in regular touch with Mantralaya. We were informed by our RTI Union member Advocate Vinod Sampat, who saw this notification in the March edition of a publication he purchased outside City Civil Court. After reading it, we are left no doubt as to the authenticity of the notification and the amendment.

THE AMENDMENT SAYS:

(i) Request for information must nor ordinarily exceed 150 words

(ii) Request for information must relate to one subject matter only. If necessary, separate applications must be made if it relates to more than one.

(iii) Public Information Officer (PIO) must allow the person inspecting the documents to take a pencil only. All other writing instruments must be deposited with the PIO.

**dssampath** · 03-30-2012, 09:34 PM

This is a very bad one. This will spread over to other states. Before that we have to take some steps to stay the said notification.

**namitabh** · 03-30-2012, 10:17 PM

MAHARASHTRA KILLS RTI ACT - sum and substance of the amendment and final result...

**aslamkhan** · 03-31-2012, 12:03 AM

Maharashtra is the only state in India. where citizen are paying taxes much higher then any other state of the country. & tax collection is also higher but look at this what citizen gets in return back stabbing by the government of Maharashtra.

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