“Democracy Hijacked: How PMO & CIC Colluded to Silence the RTI Act – A Citizen’s Bold Stand”

 

✍️ By: Rajnish Ratnakar

RTI Crusader | Citizen Activist | Constitutional Watchdog
Case No.: CIC/PMOIN/A/2025/605288
Date of Final Decision: 20 May 2025
Before: Chief Information Commissioner Shri Heeralal Samariya

 

🧭 Introduction

At a time when transparency is the bedrock of democracy, what happens when the highest office in the country — the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) — refuses to follow even basic RTI norms? And worse, when the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), meant to safeguard citizens' right to know, becomes a shield for the powerful?

This is not fiction. It happened. And I, Rajnish Ratnakar, stood alone — exposing the blatant violations by both the PMO and the CIC.

 

📂 What I Asked the PMO – Just the Truth

On 27 October 2024, I filed an RTI asking two simple, straightforward questions to the PMO:

1. How many RTI applications and first appeals has the PMO received in the last 8 years (year-wise)?
2. How many of those were responded to and uploaded online — in the spirit of transparency?

These questions were not personal, political, or sensitive. They were about institutional accountability. But instead of truth, I received delay, silence, and finally — denial.

 

🕰️ The Timeline of Betrayal

• RTI Filed: 27.10.2024
• No reply for 90 days — Blatant violation of Section 7(1) of the RTI Act.
• First Appeal Filed: 20.12.2024
• FAA replied vaguely after 53 days — Violation of Section 19(6).
• CPIO finally replied on 27.01.2025 — giving evasive, generic answers.

Their response?

"Reports are already in the public domain… information is on the website."
But no data was actually provided. No numbers. No uploads. No facts.

 

⚖️ Second Appeal to CIC: Hope Turned into Disillusionment

I filed a Second Appeal before the CIC, expecting at least a fair inquiry.

But on 20 May 2025, Chief Information Commissioner Shri Heeralal Samariya delivered a decision that shook the foundations of transparency:

• 🛑 He did not penalize the CPIO under Section 20 — despite clear delays.
• ❌ He did not reprimand the FAA for violating timelines.
• 🔇 He simply closed the case, saying PMO’s vague response was “adequate.”

No cross-examination. No scrutiny. No accountability.

 

⚠️ A Democracy in Danger: What This Really Means

This isn’t just my story. It’s a warning to every citizen.

When:

• The PMO flouts RTI deadlines,
• The CPIO hides behind stock phrases,
• The FAA sleeps, and
• The CIC protects the guilty instead of the people...

Then what’s left of our democracy?

 

📜 Violation of Constitutional Rights

This case violates your rights too, under:

Article	Right	How It Was Violated
14	Equality before law	CIC applied double standards — protecting the powerful.
19(1)(a)	Freedom of speech/information	Denied access to institutional truth.
21	Right to life with dignity	Erodes citizen dignity in a democratic setup.

 

🗣️ Citizen Rajnish Ratnakar Speaks Out

“When I filed this RTI, I was only asking for numbers. But the silence, delays, and eventual betrayal I faced show how deep the rot has gone. If the PMO can escape scrutiny and the CIC won’t act, where does the common citizen go? I will keep fighting — because democracy belongs to all of us.”

 

🧱 Conclusion: Who Will Watch the Watchdog?

If CICs become silent protectors, and the PMO mocks RTI deadlines, we are staring at a transparent decline of democracy.

The fight started by Rajnish Ratnakar is not his alone — it’s ours. If we stay silent, tomorrow our questions will be ignored too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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