Due to delay in the appointment of Chief Information Commissioner, the number of pending cases at the Central Information Commission (CIC) have gone up by nearly 1/3rd during the last 9 months. As per information furnished by the website of CIC (accessed on 29 May, 2015), the number of pending cases for disposal was 29,937 as on 22 August 2014, which after 9 months increased to 39,464 as on 22 May,...

-The Tribune The biggest lesson of the last 10 years since the Right to Information Act came into force is that Indian democracy, if it has to be meaningful, has to have a strong, effective RTI regime. That regime has to be equally owned by those who govern and those who are governed. TEN years after the Right to Information Act promised the country a "practical regime of right to information for...

-The Hindu Maharashtra on Thursday launched an online portal for Right to Information (RTI) applications. The web portal (www.rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in) can be used by citizens of the State to file online applications as well as first appeals under the RTI. The portal, available in both English and Marathi, informs applicants about the status/progress of their pleas. The fee for the application can be paid via internet banking or debit/credit cards. On submission of...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: There is a 70% spurt in the number of RTI applications to the Prime Minister's Office after Narendra Modi took charge in May this year. Worryingly the number of appeals have increased by 65% indicating that people are dissatisfied with the responses they have received so far. The number of RTIs have increased from 3069 between January-May 2014 to 5208 applications between June-October this year. The...

-The Indian Express The Supreme Court on Monday directed the central government to take a call on accepting Right To Information (RTI) applications through online mode and furnish information accordingly using electronic means. A bench comprising CJI H L Dattu and A K Sikri asked the authorities to expeditiously decide on a representation filed by Madhya Pradesh-based lawyer Rajeev Agrawal. "It appears the petitioner has filed the representations with the authorities. It seems,...