Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, penalties for failure to provide information are governed by Section 20. The Information Commission may impose a penalty of Rs 250 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000, on the Public Information Officer (PIO). While many PIOs work efficiently and responsibly, some continue to ignore RTI applications, delay responses, or provide incorrect and misleading information. Online RTI portals also often receive inadequate attention.
There is a growing need to strengthen the existing penalty framework. The maximum fine should be increased to Rs 50,000, with a daily penalty of Rs 500 for delays and non-compliance. Since the penalty is personally recovered from the salary of the concerned PIO and not from the public authority, stricter fines would encourage greater accountability and prompt action.
Section 20(2) already permits disciplinary action for repeated violations, but stronger enforcement is necessary. With the expected salary increase under the 8th Pay Commission, penalties should also be revised to improve efficiency and responsibility among PIOs.
The government should amend the relevant provisions to introduce automatic penalties after 30 days of delay and mandatory suspension for officers who repeatedly violate RTI rules.
