Over 37,000 RTI appeals pending with CIC

NEW DELHI: Over 37,000 appeals under the RTI Act are pending with the Central Information Commission, the government today said, indicating that a lack of time limit for disposal of 2nd appeals by the body is the reason behind the large pendency.

As on February 17, a total of 37,935 2nd appeals are pending with the CIC, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

"As per the Right to Information Act, the RTI applications and first appeals are required to be mandatorily disposed off within 30 days of their receipt. However, no time limit has been prescribed for disposal of 2nd appeals pending with the CIC," he said.

As on December 31, 2013, 22,097 2nd appeals were pending before the information body. The number stood at 35,854 on December 31, 2014.