Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati Discusses Enhancing Awareness of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Mizoram with Chief Information Commissioner of India

Aizawl : Mizoram Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati met with Shri Heeralal Samariya, IAS (Retd.), Chief Information Commissioner of India, at Raj Bhavan today. The discussion focused on key aspects of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and its implementation in Mizoram.

During the meeting, Dr. Kambhampati underscored the importance of good governance, transparency, and accountability. He highlighted the critical role of the RTI Act in empowering the public and raising awareness in Mizoram. He urged officials to remain diligent in providing accurate and reliable information to citizens, thereby reinforcing the system and enhancing trust in governance.

Shri Heeralal Samariya shared insights into Mizoram’s RTI processes, noting that most applications in the state are resolved within the mandated 30-day period. He commended the low rate of escalation, with less than 1% of cases being referred to the First Appellate Authority or Second Appellate Authority. This, he said, reflects a commendable level of awareness and efficiency among officials, NGOs, village councils, local councils, and the general public.

He emphasized the RTI Act as a crucial tool for promoting good governance, sharing that approximately 20,000 RTI applications annually reach the second appeal stage at the central level. However, most cases are resolved in the earlier stages.

In Mizoram, during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, a total of 5,741 RTI applications were submitted, the majority of which were resolved by concerned officials. Less than 1% of these cases escalated to the State Information Commission via a second appeal. Of these escalated cases, 90% of applicants received satisfactory information without the need for further hearings, highlighting the Act’s effective implementation in the state.

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