Pune: RTI Act Undermined By Administrative Apathy, Says Former IAS Officer Mahesh Zagade
Pune, 2nd December 2024: The Right to Information (RTI) Act, envisioned as a tool to bring transparency and accountability to governance, is being systematically weakened by administrative apathy, according to former IAS officer Mahesh Zagade. Speaking at a program titled “State and Direction of Right to Information” organized by Sajag Nagrik Manch, Zagade criticised the administrative system for exploiting political disinterest to erode the Act’s effectiveness.
“Instead of strengthening the RTI Act, the administrative machinery is deliberately working to disable it. This violation of the law calls for a mass movement to ensure its proper implementation,” said Zagade, urging citizens and elected representatives to prioritise transparency and accountability.
The program, held to mark 19 years since the RTI Act came into force, also featured lawyer Dr. Prahlad Kachare, Sajag Nagrik Manch President Vivek Velankar, and activist Jugal Rathi.
Dr. Kachare emphasised the need to leverage technology to improve the RTI framework, stating, “The RTI Act, born out of the labour movement, is essential for increasing public participation in democracy. The Constitution grants sovereignty to the people of India, and enabling RTI will empower them to exercise this sovereignty more effectively.”
Zagade also highlighted the dire state of the Information Commission, where numerous commissioner posts remain vacant across Maharashtra. “The commission has become a retirement haven for former bureaucrats. To ensure transparency, individuals with expertise in information rights should be appointed to these positions,” he said.
Citing concerning statistics, Dr. Kachare noted that over 4.5 lakh secondary appeals are pending nationwide, with Maharashtra leading in the backlog of complaints and appeals. This delay, he said, undermines the effectiveness of the RTI Act and discourages citizens from seeking information.
“The growing use of RTI has instilled fear in the administrative system,” said Zagade. However, he warned that efforts are underway to cripple the Act further, reflecting a lack of political will to empower the public.
The speakers called for a collective effort to protect and strengthen the RTI Act, stressing the need for a movement to ensure transparency, accountability, and genuine public participation in governance.
