Hyderabad: Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday called for greater RTI implementation uniformity nationwide, with stronger proactive disclosure and faster citizen access to government information.
He also urged Information Commissions and government departments to use technology effectively while improving transparency and accountability. The Governor inaugurated a two-day national conference at the Administrative Staff College of India in Hyderabad.
The conference, titled “RTI: Operational Uniformity in Implementation – Challenges and Solutions,” focused on improving implementation of the Right to Information Act. Shukla said authorities should not assess the RTI regime’s effectiveness merely through the number of applications and appeals disposed of.
Instead, he said its performance should reflect how effectively the law had improved transparency and accountability in governance. The Governor called for greater emphasis on proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act.
He said government departments should move beyond providing information only after receiving requests from citizens. Instead, departments should routinely place relevant and updated information in the public domain.
Such a system would reduce the need for citizens to file RTI applications for information that authorities could disclose suo motu, he said. Shukla said information held by government departments was essentially public information.
Therefore, the administration had a responsibility to make such information available in a timely, accessible and transparent manner. He also highlighted the role of technology in improving the handling of RTI applications and related processes.
RTI implementation uniformity can benefit from technology
Shukla called for wider use of Artificial Intelligence, data analytics and digital record management in the RTI system. He said these technologies could improve transparency and efficiency in handling information requests.
However, the Governor stressed that technology had to remain citizen-centric. Digital systems should make information easier to access rather than create additional barriers for citizens, he said.
Shukla also called for greater accessibility for people living in rural and remote areas. He said the RTI mechanism should become more accessible to women, persons with disabilities and vulnerable sections of society.
Information Commissions across India should also establish a strong mechanism for exchanging successful experiences, innovative approaches and best practices, he said.
RTI implementation uniformity requires official training
The Governor stressed regular training for officials involved in implementing the transparency law. He said continuous improvements in institutional processes were necessary to increase both the quality and speed of RTI disposal.
The national conference brought the issue of operational consistency together with concerns about accessibility, technology and proactive publication of information. The National Federation of Information Commissioners in India, New Delhi, sponsored the two-day conference.
The Telangana Information Commission and the Centre for Public Policy, Governance and Performance at ASCI jointly organised the event. The conference focused on challenges and possible solutions in achieving operational uniformity while implementing the RTI Act across the country.