No evidence of RTI Act being misused: Information Commissioner

Information Commissioner Ahid Rasheed has invited Attorney General Ahmed Usham to visit the commission’s office to observe its operations and information management, following the Attorney General’s remarks suggesting that the Right to Information (RTI) Act is being misused.

In a post on X, Information Commissioner Ahid Rasheed stated that there is currently no evidence to suggest a systemic abuse of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. While acknowledging that certain individual cases may involve burdensome queries, he noted that such instances are not a common occurrence. Ahid further emphasized that the issue of state institutions remaining silent and failing to respond to information requests is far more prevalent than the issue of receiving difficult or vexatious questions.

Furthermore, Ahid stated that no government ministry has yet fully complied with the proactive disclosure requirements mandated by law. Consequently, an invitation has been extended to Attorney General Ahmed Usham to review the data compiled by the office. He added that the Attorney General has also been requested to examine annual reports and assessments conducted to monitor the level of legal compliance and enforcement.

Ahid stated that strengthening compliance with the Right to Information Act is a measure that would benefit all parties, including state institutions.

While the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM) has stated that the President’s Office has acted in violation of the law and warned of impending action, Attorney General Ahmed Usham has spoken out in criticism of those submitting Right to Information (RTI) requests.

Speaking at a press conference held by the Attorney General's Office on Wednesday, Usham stated that the Right to Information (RTI) Act was established with a vital purpose, emphasizing the importance of providing information to those who utilize the law in good faith.

However, Usham noted that the Right to Information (RTI) Act is frequently being misused. He further stated that some RTI requests require government agencies to dedicate an excessive amount of time to fulfill them.

Usham further emphasized that while responding to Right to Information (RTI) requests is crucial, taking punitive action against those who fail to do so does not fall within the mandate of the Attorney General's Office. However, he noted that under the Attorney General’s Office Act, the office retains the authority to issue necessary directives to state institutions regarding such matters.

Concerns are mounting over the President's Office's consistent failure to respond to Right to Information (RTI) requests. The President of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM) has noted that even a single case filed by RaajjeTV demonstrates that the President's Office has failed to comply with the legal requirements set forth in the Act.