Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati talks with India’s Chief Information Commissioner about ways to increase Mizoram’s understanding of the Right to Information (RTI) Act

INN/Aizawl, @infodeaofficial

At the Raj Bhavan today, Mizoram Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati spoke with India’s Chief Information Commissioner, Heeralal Samariya, IAS (Rtd.). During this meeting, a number of significant topics pertaining to Mizoram’s Right to Information Act were discussed.

During his discussion with India’s Chief Information Commissioner, Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati highlighted the value of accountability, openness, and good governance. He also highlighted how the people of Mizoram have effectively used the Right to Information (RTI) Act to raise awareness. In order to further develop the system, he also asked the relevant officials to keep up their hard work in making sure that residents obtain correct and trustworthy information.

According to Heeralal Samariya, IAS (Rtd.), India’s Chief Information Commissioner, RTI applications in Mizoram are typically handled within the allotted 30-day window. The fact that less than 1% of applicants take their cases to higher authorities like the First Appellate Authority or the Second Appellate Authority was something he expressed gratitude for. He pointed out that this shows how well-informed the people, NGOs, village and local governments, and officials are about the RTI Act.

He underlined that one of the most important instruments for guaranteeing good governance is the RTI Act. He emphasised its significance by pointing out that the majority of cases are resolved at the lower level, with about 20,000 RTI applications each year making it to the second appeal step at the level of the central government.

The study states that 5,741 RTI applications were filed in Mizoram during the 2023–2024 fiscal year, with the bulk of them being resolved by the relevant authorities. A second appeal brought less than 1 percent of the cases to the State Information Commission. The RTI Act was successfully implemented in the state, as evidenced by the fact that 90% of the applicants received comprehensive and adequate information prior to being invited for additional hearings.

The conference was also attended by Mizoram’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), John Neihlaia, IPS (Rtd.), and Information Commissioner (IC), Mangjangam Touthang, IIS (Rtd.).