Activists Urge Maharashtra Government to Abolish RTI Appeal Fees A Maharashtra-based transparency advocacy group has called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ government to abolish fees charged for filing appeals under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, arguing that the practice undermines citizens’ access to information and conflicts with Central Government guidelines. In a formal representation submitted to the Chief Minister recently, the Association of Social and RTI Activists (ASRA) demanded immediate amendments to the Maharashtra Right to Information Rules to eliminate fees for First Appeals and Second Appeals under the RTI Act, 2005. The organization highlighted that the state’s current fee structure diverges from the Central RTI Rules, which stipulate that citizens must pay only the initial application fee of ₹10, while appeals at both levels are free of cost. ASRA cited a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) communication dated April 26, 2011, in which the Central Government advised all states to align their RTI fee frameworks with the Centre’s guidelines. The group noted that RTI fees across states vary significantly and referenced recommendations from the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, which warned that excessive fees could deter citizens from exercising their right to information. ASRA argued that charging additional fees at the appellate stage penalizes citizens for administrative failures, delays, or refusals by Public Information Officers. The organization emphasized that levying fees on citizens for appealing against an illegal refusal by a state official is inherently unjust.#maharashtra_government #devendra_fadnavis #department_of_personnel_and_training #association_of_social_and_rti_activists #sanjay_thul
