RTI Commission Grapples with 18,000 Case Backlog

Quick Summary

• Event: Telangana State RTI Commission launched district-level tours to promote clarity and public accountability, starting in Medak on July 29, 2025.
• Participants: State Chief Data Commissioner Chandrasekhar Reddy and other commissioners conducted meetings and awareness sessions at the Medak Integrated Collectorate Office. District collector Rahul Raj attended the conference.
• Focus: Training Public Information Officers (pios) on RTI Act provisions,emphasizing timely responses to citizen requests within 30 days as per law.
• Pending Cases: The Commission reported 18,000 unresolved RTI cases due to departmental non-responsiveness over the past decade. Plans were announced to clear all pending cases by August 2025.
• Goals:

– Achieve zero pendency in 30 departments within two months.
– Ensure full resolution for RTI applications across all districts by March next year through ongoing campaigns covering awareness initiatives in 11 out of a total of 22 districts.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the Telangana State RTI Commission’s proactive approach toward clearing its backlog is a notable step forward for governance transparency and citizen engagement. By addressing systemic delays caused by departmental inefficiencies over the years, this campaign underlines the importance of accountability mechanisms like RTI enforcement alongside legal mandates like adherence to citizen charters.

While resolving pending applications could build trust among citizens who rely on such frameworks for information access,sustained training initiatives directed at PIOs may enhance compliance rates moving ahead. Moreover, achieving zero pendency would set an critically important precedent for effective governance practices not only in telangana but across India when embracing institutional reforms aimed at greater public inclusion.

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