The Maharashtra government has suspended the implementation of the newly-notified Maharashtra Right to Information (RTI) Rules, 2026, following widespread criticism from transparency activists and a threat by veteran anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare to launch a hunger strike against the changes.
Chief minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis ordered an immediate stay on the implementation of the rules, according to an official order issued on 2 July 2026 by Raviraj Falle, secretary of the state information commission.
The order states that the chief minister has directed that the newly-notified rules be kept in abeyance and that all government departments and public authorities be informed accordingly.
The decision comes days after RTI activists, civil society organisations and legal experts objected to several provisions of the Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2026, arguing that they imposed additional financial and procedural hurdles on citizens seeking information under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
Higher Fees and New Conditions
The notification proposed a steep increase in RTI-related fees. The application fee was raised from ₹10 to ₹30, while the charge for A4-size copies of documents was increased from ₹2 per page to ₹5 per page.
The revised rules also introduced a fee of ₹50 for filing a first appeal and ₹100 for filing a second appeal.
In addition, scanned or digitally supplied copies of documents were also to attract a charge of ₹5 per page.
Another controversial provision required applicants to furnish proof of Indian citizenship while submitting RTI applications. The prescribed application form also required applicants to disclose the purpose of seeking information and restricted each application to a single subject.
Transparency advocates argued that some of these provisions were inconsistent with the Right to Information Act, 2005. In particular, they pointed to Section 6(2) of the Act which expressly provides that an applicant is not required to give any reason for requesting information.
Activists Raise Objections
RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar was among the strongest critics of the notification. He argued that the increased fees, appeal charges, mandatory proof of citizenship and the requirement to disclose the purpose of an application would discourage citizens from exercising their statutory right to information.
According to Mr Kumbhar, the cumulative effect of the changes would make the RTI process more expensive and less accessible for ordinary citizens.
Separately, Vivek Velankar, president of Sajag Nagrik Manch, Pune, wrote to the state's chief secretary seeking disciplinary action against senior officials involved in framing the new rules.
Mr Velankar questioned the legality of requiring applicants to disclose the purpose of seeking information and criticised the government for failing to justify the steep increase in RTI-related fees despite the RTI Act's emphasis on proactive disclosure.
Anna Hazare's Intervention
The controversy intensified after Anna Hazare reportedly warned that he would launch a hunger strike if the government did not withdraw the amended rules, prompting the state government to reconsider its decision.
The Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2026, were notified by the general administration department (GAD) and replaced the earlier fee structure, which had remained unchanged for several years.
Following the chief minister's intervention, implementation of the new rules has been suspended until further orders, providing temporary relief to RTI users and transparency campaigners who argued that the amendments diluted citizens' right to information.
The Maharashtra government has not yet indicated whether it will amend the contentious provisions, hold consultations with stakeholders or issue a revised notification before bringing a new set of RTI rules into force.
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