Nashik with 1,000 has the maximum number of pending second appeals. The Brihanmumbai bench has the lowest number of pending second appeals at 626
It's ironic that every few years, in a state that prides itself on implementing the transparency act before the central Right to Information (RTI) Act came into existence, it faces imminent death due to neglect. Incidentally, a month before its 13th anniversary, the state information commission has its highest-ever pendency.
At last count in August 2017, around 41,682 (39,184 second appeals and 2,498 complaints) were pending, almost double from over five years ago when it stood at 23,921. 2012 was the year, when were only four commissioners, a number which was among the lowest in recent years. In contrast, there are seven commissioners now.
However, except for the Brihanmumbai bench, all benches have pending second appeals that are more than 1,000 with the Nashik bench having a maximum pending appeals at over 10,000 as on August 2017. The Brihanmumbai bench, which has the lowest, had 626 second appeals pending in August 2017. Three benches that have new appointments since January have almost the same pending appeals as they were before they joined. These are Nashik, Nagpur and Amravati. There has been no drastic change in the number of pending second appeals, considering that it has been over six months. At the three places, the pending remains more or less the same. At Nashik, it continues to be over 10,000 while at Nagpur and Amravati it is over 1,000 and 6,500 respectively.
At the headquarter bench, which fell vacant barely three months ago, the pending appeals have already reached over 1,800. Complaints, which are also filed because commission orders are not implemented, appointing of commissioners, and the quality of commissioners, has always been blamed as the prime reason for "killing of the RTI Act by government" by RTI activist.
In May, the outgoing chief commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad and former central information commissioner, Shailesh Gandhi had written to the government to appoint commissioners. Gandhi went on to state that some RTI activist be appointed and even suggested some names.
"Government needs to appoint commissioners. When they are appointing, there should be an advertisement and minimum clearance of appeals and complaints need to be set that should be followed by all commissioners. The government should also consider appointing legal officers and increasing staff that is often on deputation and leaves. It should be accountable for delays that happen. The working pattern is not good in the commission," said Bhaskaar Prabhu, an RTI activist.
AWAITING ATTENTION
Nashik with 1,000 has the maximum number of pending second appeals. The Brihanmumbai bench has the lowest number of pending second appeals at 626.
PENDING APPEALS
Pending second appeals as of August 2017:
- Headquarter: 1,872
- Brihanmumbai: 626
- Konkan: 4,026
- Pune: 7,766
- Aurangabad: 6,507
- Nashik: 10,141
- Nagpur: 1,197
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