The Maharashtra government is planning to introduce a clause to allow proactive online disclosure of files and the minutes of meetings to bring transparency in administration and streamline applications seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
“Transparency is one of the most important focus areas of the administration and proactive disclosure of files and minutes could be one of the options to establish this. We have begun the process of introducing this clause in the rules of the Act,” said an official handling the file on the matter.
A Secretary-level officer will be assigned the responsibility of making the disclosure. However, the clause will not be applicable to all pieces of information. The officer said, “We cannot put each and everything online. There has to be a certain criterion based on which it will be decided to proactively disclose the information or not. Sensitive information will certainly won’t be put online.”
Former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said, “Section 4 of the RTI Act talks about this arrangement and it applies to majority of the information which has to be in the public domain. If the government is introducing this clause of proactive disclosure specifically in the rules of the Act then it is a welcome step.”
He also voiced concern over the move, “There have been cases where offices have refused information saying it is available online. If introducing the clause is to legitimise this then it will go against the Act.”
State Information Commissioner (Brihanmumbai) A.K. Jain said, “I cannot tell you when this will be done as the State government will take the decision.”
