MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has withdrawn a controversial provision in its newly notified Right to Information (RTI) Rules, 2026 that had required citizens to state the purpose for seeking information, barely a week after introducing it, triggering fresh questions over the legal vetting and drafting of the new framework.A notification issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on June 19 amended the RTI Rules notified on June 12 and replaced the application format prescribed under the new rules. The revised format removes the requirement that applicants disclose the purpose for which information is being sought.The rollback comes after criticism from transparency activists and legal experts, who argued that the provision was inconsistent with the spirit of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Section 6(2) of the central RTI Act states that an applicant “shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information”.RTI activist Anil Galgali termed the government’s move a “serious policy reversal” and questioned how such a provision found its way into the rules in the first place.“If making disclosure of purpose mandatory was legally justified, why was it withdrawn within a week? And if it was legally untenable, why was it incorporated in the original notification at all?” Galgali said.The activist alleged that the development indicates inadequate legal scrutiny during the drafting process and called for an inquiry by the state’s principal secretary into the circumstances under which the provision was introduced and subsequently withdrawn.The June 12 rules had triggered widespread debate among RTI users, civil society groups and transparency advocates because of several new conditions imposed on applicants. Apart from requiring applicants to disclose the purpose of seeking information, the rules introduced proof of citizenship requirements, appeal fees, restrictions on legal representation and a limit of 150 words for describing the subject matter of information sought.While the latest amendment removes the purpose-disclosure clause, other contentious provisions remain unchanged. The revised application format issued on June 19 continues to require applicants to provide proof of identity and limits the “subject matter of information” section to 150 words.Transparency campaigners argue that these provisions may create additional procedural hurdles for citizens seeking information from public authorities. They have urged the government to undertake a broader review of the rules to ensure they remain aligned with the RTI Act’s objective of promoting transparency and accountability in governance.The state government has not publicly explained the reasons behind the amendment or whether objections received after the June 12 notification prompted the change.The latest development is likely to intensify scrutiny of Maharashtra’s RTI Rules, 2026, particularly at a time when the state continues to witness high volumes of RTI applications from citizens seeking information on civic services, infrastructure projects, public expenditure and government decision-making.Key changes and controversies• June 12, 2026: Maharashtra notified new RTI Rules requiring applicants to state the purpose of seeking information.• June 19, 2026: Government amended the rules and removed the purpose-disclosure requirement.• RTI Act, 2005 does not require citizens to provide reasons for seeking information.• Other disputed provisions continue, including:
- Proof of identity requirement.
- 150-word limit for subject matter of information.
- Appeal fees.
- Restrictions on legal representation.
