Andhra CIC bans 2 activists citing voluminous RTI filings

Vijayawada: In a significant ruling, Andhra Pradesh chief information commissioner Vajja Srinivasa Rao has barred two RTI activists from filing further applications, appeals or complaints under the Right to Information Act, observing that they were repeatedly misusing the law to harass public authorities.The orders relate to V Uthanna of Madanapalle and advocate Perumal Jayachandra Reddy, president of Legal Aid Welfare Society (LAWS), Chittoor. The CIC said the RTI Act, meant to promote transparency and accountability, cannot be used for intimidation, repetitive litigation or disruption of administration.In Reddy’s case, the commission examined nearly 40 appeals and complaints against revenue authorities.

It noted that several applications were filed in the name of LAWS, a legal entity, and held that the RTI Act grants the right to information only to citizens, not organisations.The Commission found that many of Reddy’s queries sought voluminous records and appeared driven by personal grievances rather than public interest. It also flagged warnings of penalty action in applications, terming them attempts to intimidate public information officers.

In Uthanna’s case, the Commission dealt with a complaint over alleged non-compliance with an earlier order involving a government degree college for women in Madanapalle. He had sought records spanning a decade, including staff and student attendance.The Commission noted that over 800 pages of information had already been provided free of cost and that authorities had complied with earlier directions. Despite this, repeated RTI applications and appeals were filed on similar issues, placing an undue burden on offices and affecting genuine applicants.Referring to Supreme Court rulings, the CIC said indiscriminate and voluminous RTI requests could hamper administrative efficiency, as officials spend excessive time compiling information.The Commission also cited complaints alleging collection of money for facilitating RTI requests and directed the Tirupati district collector to examine records linked to such claims.“We will protect the interests of genuine applicants, but repetitive and vexatious filings will not be entertained,” Srinivasa Rao said. The prohibition order has been communicated to departments, collectors, PIOs and appellate authorities across the state.