Fadnavis orders stay on new RTI rules after Hazare agitation threat

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an immediate stay on the controversial Maharashtra Right to Information (RTI) Rules following a backlash from transparency advocates and a hunger strike threat by veteran anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare.

The Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2026, proposed several changes, including a higher RTI application fee, mandatory identity proof and a restriction that each application should deal with only one subject.

CM Fadnavis on Thursday asked the Chief Commissioner of RTI to stay the new notified rules, sources said.

Official sources said Fadnavis had written to the Maharashtra State Information Commission stating that it would not be appropriate to take a final decision on the amended rules without first holding discussions with Hazare, who had objected to the changes and announced an indefinite fast.

Following the chief minister’s communication, the State Information Commission stayed the amendments, officials said. Earlier, State Chief Information Commissioner Rahul Pande had met Hazare at Ralegan Siddhi to discuss the amendments.