A critical gap in the Telangana Government’s Right to Information (RTI) framework has come to light after multiple citizens raised concerns about the official RTI portal — https://rti.telangana.gov.in — failing to deliver responses despite collecting application fees.
TheSumoto’s correspondent visited the RTI Commissionerate Head Office in Hyderabad to inquire about the functioning of the website. Surprisingly, the RTI staff there disowned any responsibility for operating or monitoring the website, even though it is officially listed on government platforms.
This raises alarming questions: Who manages the portal? Where do the applications go? And who is accountable for the ₹12.36 fee charged from every citizen who files a request through it?
No Accountability for Fees Collected
Several applicants, including journalists and activists, have confirmed paying ₹12.36 per RTI application online through the portal. While the RTI Act, 2005 mandates a basic application fee of ₹10, this additional charge — not officially explained anywhere — adds to the confusion.
What’s worse is that applicants receive no acknowledgment, tracking mechanism, or reply from the concerned departments. With no grievance redressal linked to the portal and no official ownership, the platform appears to be a ghost system — collecting money but delivering nothing.
Violation of the RTI Act?
The RTI Act, 2005 clearly outlines the responsibility of Public Information Officers (PIOs) to either reply to an RTI query or forward it to the appropriate department within 5 days if it falls outside their jurisdiction. However, if no officer is actually receiving applications through the Telangana RTI portal, this process is fundamentally broken.
Legal experts argue that charging above ₹10 without formal justification may violate the RTI Fee Rules and also the citizen’s right to information. “This is not just a technical glitch. It points to a systemic failure in ensuring transparency and accountability in governance,” said a retired information commissioner who reviewed the issue.
Glaring Security and Privacy Concerns
With no clear ownership of the portal, the safety of sensitive citizen data submitted through RTI applications also comes into question. Applicants routinely share personal contact details, identity proofs, and case-related documents through the platform — information that could be at risk if the portal is not securely operated or monitored.
The State’s Silence
Despite several complaints, the Telangana Government has not issued a clarification on the matter. Attempts to reach the IT Department and General Administration Department yielded no concrete answers. Calls to the helpline listed on the portal either went unanswered or were redirected.
Citizens Demand Action
Activists are now urging the Central Information Commission (CIC) and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to intervene. They seek an audit of the Telangana RTI portal, a refund mechanism for improperly collected fees, and immediate restoration of a functional, accountable online RTI system.
Until then, Telangana’s citizens remain in the dark — paying for a right they can’t access.
