According to a report by Satark Nagrik Sangathan, backlog of RTI appeals or complaints is increasing in commissions every year.

About:

• Nearly 3.15 lakh complaints and appeals are pending with 26 information commissions across India.
• The number of appeals and complaints pending in 2019, from data obtained from 26 information commissions was 2,18,347.
• In 2020, the number climbed up to 2,33,384 with data obtained from 23 information commissions, in 2021 the number was 2,86,325 with data from 26 commissions and in 2022, it was 3,14,323.
• The highest number of pending cases was in Maharashtra at 99,722, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 44,482, Karnataka at 30,358, the Central Information Commission at 26,724 and Bihar at 21,346.
• The report says two information commissions—Jharkhand and Tripura—out of 29 across the country have been completely defunct for 29 months and 15 months respectively.
• Manipur, Telangana, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh are without chiefs at the moment.
• Only 5% of the all positions in commissions are being occupied by women.
• Also, several information commissions, including the Central Information Commission, are working at reduced capacity with less than the stipulated number of members being in office.
• Under RTI law, information commissions are the final appellate authority and are mandated to safeguard and facilitate people’s right to information.

Source : The Hindu

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