The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to 11 states, urging them to report on the establishment of Right to Information (RTI) portals. This demand follows a landmark judgment from March 20, 2023, where the court directed all states, Union Territories, and high courts to create online RTI facilities within three months to enhance transparency under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
On Monday, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.B. Pardiwala reviewed submissions that indicated non-compliance by states including Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, West Bengal, and Union Territories like Andaman and Nicobar, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Arunachal Pradesh. The bench highlighted concerns that even in regions where RTI portals have been implemented, they fail to meet the necessary accessibility and usability standards prescribed under guidelines for Indian government websites and apps.
The court’s order also pointed out deficiencies in the inclusion of various public authorities within the operational scope of the existing RTI portals. “Issue notice to the states and UTs, returnable on October 21,” the bench declared, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
This directive aligns with the Supreme Court’s own efforts to foster transparency, evidenced by the launch of its RTI online portal in November 2022. The portal was established to facilitate public access to information about the Supreme Court, transitioning from the previous system where applications were only submitted by post.
