CIC Warns of Penal Proceedings for RTI Delays; Upholds Transparency Mandates: MHA Case

RTI Compliance: CIC Sternly Reminds Officials of Strict Statutory Timelines

The Central Information Commission (CIC), in a recent decision regarding a dispute over Hindi language typing standards, has issued a sharp reminder to public authorities regarding their obligations under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. While the commission eventually closed the case, the proceedings underscored a critical point: the sanctity of the 30-day disposal limit under the transparency law is non-negotiable.

The Backdrop: A Contest of Keys

The case stems from an RTI application filed by Lavanaya Kumar Sharma, who sought information from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding a Hindi typing competition held at Akashvani, Lucknow . The appellant raised concerns about the use of "Google Input Tools" (English-keyboard transliteration) during the event, questioning whether this aligned with the official guidelines stipulated for Hindi Pakhwada celebrations.

The appellant's queries ranged from seeking information on official rules to questioning whether administrative officials had the discretion to adopt transliteration methods over traditional Hindi typing software.

Arguments and Escalation

The respondent, the Rajbhasha Vibhag under the Ministry of Home Affairs, argued that they had fulfilled their duty by providing existing records in a subsequent communication dated March 24, 2026, following the receipt of the commission's notice. The department noted that they had no record of receiving the appellant’s initial appeals via their online portal or traditional mail, creating a breakdown in the communication chain.

The Commission’s Legal Analysis

Chief Information Commissioner Raj Kumar Goyal clarified the operational limits of an RTI response. Citing Section 2(j) of the RTI Act, the commission emphasized that a Public Information Officer (PIO) is tasked solely with providing access to information that exists in material form within the department’s records.

The Commission noted: > "A Public Information Officer cannot be expected to create information that is not a part of the record. It is also not expected that they interpret information or answer hypothetical questions."

Crucially, while the CIC found that the requested information had eventually been shared, it did not condone the initial administrative lethargy—the department had significantly exceeded the 30-day window mandated by law.

Key Observations

The judgment serves as a stern warning against bureaucratic delays: * *"A duly filed RTI application must be resolved within the period of 30 days prescribed in the Act, as has.