Telangana’s RTI crisis could take 29 years to clear, Activists caution
HYDERABAD: Telangana stands at the brink of an RTI appeals crisis so severe it could linger for thirty years, RTI activists caution. In a sweeping set of recommendations to the Telangana State Chief Information Commissioner, they call for bold reforms to break the logjam and revive transparency.
RTI activists primarily cite a recent Satark Nagrik Sangathan report, which estimates that, at the current rate of disposal, the Telangana State Information Commission (TGIC), the state body responsible for hearing appeals under the Right to Information (RTI) Act,would take 29 years and 2 months to resolve a single new appeal under current rates of disposal.
Key recommendations
In their letter to G. Chandrashekar Reddy, the State Chief Information Commissioner, RTI activists share a plan to strengthen the transparency law. They suggest using digital filing, protecting whistleblowers, and improving the Commission’s internal processes.
The activists urge a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s online RTI portal, envisioning a platform that is accessible in both Telugu and English, optimized for mobile use, and equipped with SMS updates. They advocate for eliminating mandatory logins, introducing a fast-track option for urgent cases, enabling online second appeals, sending SMS reminders for deadlines, and sharing real-time data on RTI backlogs across departments.
Protecting whistleblowers and Promoting proactive disclosure
The recommendations emphasize the safety of RTI users, urging the Commission to treat applicants as potential whistleblowers and to recommend interim protection in cases involving threats, particularly in sensitive matters. The letter also requests that the state government notify and implement the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014.
To minimize the volume of individual RTI requests, the groups advocate for the prompt launch of the planned ‘Praja Soochna Portal’, proposed public disclosure portal of the state, to enable proactive disclosure. They request that the Commission participate in the ‘Digital Dialogue’ consultative process to help ensure that the portal addresses the needs of citizens.
To help clear the backlog of 18,192 appeal cases as of June 2025, the organizations suggest that the Commission start live streaming and holding virtual hearings immediately. They note that this follows a Supreme Court order from October 2023 and has been effective in other commissions.
They also recommend issuing show-cause notices to public authorities immediately upon filing an appeal, rather than waiting one to two years for a hearing to be held. This approach, they argue, would often lead to information disclosure without lengthy hearings, reducing the Commission’s workload.
Reviving lapsed initiatives and ensuring accountability
The letter calls for the revival of discontinued practices, including bi-monthly civil society consultations, regular training for Public Information Officers (PIOs), and the reconstitution of High-Level and District-Level Committees on RTI implementation.
The groups urge the TGIC to enhance transparency by publishing monthly, commissioner-wise operational statistics and ensuring annual reports are prepared and published regularly as required by law.
RTI activist signatories, including Nikhil Dey (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan – MKSS), P Shankar (Dalit Bahujan Front – DBF), Karim Ansari (YouRTI, an RTI platform) and Rakesh Dubbudu (National Campaign for People’s Right to Information – NCPRI), as well as researchers like Srinivas Kodali, expressed support for these reforms to promote transparency and accountability in Telangana. They indicated willingness to collaborate.
Additional signatories include Rajorshi (International Institute of Information Technology – IIIT), Kondal Reddy (Rythu Swarajya Vedika – RSV), Sai Krishna (researcher), SreeHarsha T, Akhil Surya (Social Accountability Forum for Action and Research – SAFAR), Sanjeev (Human Rights Forum – HRF), and SQ Masood (Aseem, an NGO).
