Mumbai: Seeking information under RTI Act in the state has now become costlier and will need to come with proof of citizenship. The state govt last week notified RTI Rules, 2026, which introduces sweeping changes affecting citizens, public authorities and the appeals process. Activists called them restrictive.The fee for filing an application has been raised from Rs 10 to Rs 30, and for photocopies, digital copies and scanned documents from Rs 2 to Rs 5 per page. First and second appeals, which cost Rs 20 each, will now attract a fee of Rs 50 and Rs 100, respectively.Another major change is that citizens will be allowed to seek information on only one subject per application. Applications are also expected to be concise and generally restricted to 150 words. If an application contains multiple subjects, the public information officer (PIO) may process only the first subject and ask the applicant to file separate applications for the rest.Citizens will also need to demonstrate larger public interest in their applications when seeking personal information. Mere assertion of such public interest, however, will not suffice. Section 44(3) of Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, has altered Section 8(1)(j) of RTI Act, which governs the disclosure of personal information held by public authorities, sparking concerns over its dilution. Three separate PIL petitions have been filed in Supreme Court challenging DPDP Act’s constitutionality.An application without a self-attested copy of a photo identity document establishing citizenship can be returned for compliance.Tightening accountability, the rules state that failure by public authorities to proactively disclose information may be treated as dereliction of duty, with responsibility fixed on the office head.Jeetendra Ghadge, RTI activist and founder of The Young Whistleblowers Foundation, criticised the changes. “Instead of addressing the backlog of appeals, govt has chosen to make access to information more expensive.”As of the end of Dec 2025, State Information Commission’s (SIC) Greater Mumbai bench had 3,722 pending second appeals. Across Maharashtra, RTI-related pendency remains substantial, with activists and petitioners before Bombay HC estimating that nearly 1 lakh second appeals and complaints were pending before SIC and its benches in 2025.Ghadge alleged that very few penalties were imposed on errant PIOs in the past five years, fostering a culture of impunity and routine rejection of RTI applications. He said charging applicants for scanned documents is “unjustifiable” when digital sharing costs are negligible. “These rules weaken, rather than strengthen, citizens’ right to information.”Former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said several provisions appear to dilute the spirit of RTI Act. “Insisting on proof of citizenship creates avoidable barriers for applicants,” he said. On the higher fees for first and second appeals, he said citizens should not be charged for exercising their statutory right. He expressed concern over the provision allowing appeals to be dismissed for non-prosecution if appellants repeatedly fail to appear, saying the emphasis should remain on ensuring access to information. “Besides, the rules state that information available on a govt website will not be given duly attested. This means it cannot be presented anywhere.”
