Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 2: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday ordered an immediate stay on the implementation of the Maharashtra Right to Information (RTI) Rules, 2026, following a backlash from transparency activists and veteran social activist Anna Hazare's threat to launch an indefinite hunger strike.

The new rules, notified on Jun 12, proposed several changes, including an increase in the RTI application fee to Rs 30, mandatory submission of identity proof, and a provision that each RTI application should ordinarily deal with only one subject.

Sources said Fadnavis directed the Chief Information Commissioner to keep the new rules on hold until wider consultations are held.

Hazare had demanded the withdrawal of the rules, alleging that they diluted the spirit of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and made it more difficult for citizens to access information. He had threatened to begin an indefinite hunger strike from Jul 5 if the amendments were not revoked.

In a memorandum to the chief minister, Hazare said the revised rules introduced procedural hurdles, higher costs and complications in the appeal process, and alleged that they were framed without public consultation. He urged the government to prepare fresh rules after consulting RTI experts, information commissioners, social activists, lawyers, journalists and citizens.

Under the notified rules, applicants would have been required to submit self-attested proof of Indian citizenship along with RTI applications. The rules also prescribed charges of Rs 5 per A4 page or scanned page, made record inspection free for the first hour and Rs 50 per hour thereafter, and introduced fees of Rs 50 and Rs 100 for first and second appeals respectively.