Order, many RTI activists called Bizarre, was handed over to Susant Kumar Mohanta, a career journalist who became in 2023. Photo: x/@susantamohants
ODISHA information commissioner has banned activists for information (RTI) the right to submit other RTI applications in the Commission for one year from Saturday (September 13, 2025).
The Order, many RTI activists called Bizarre, was approved by Susant Kumar Mohanta, a career journalist who became the State Information Commissioner in 2023.
In her order, Mr. Mohanta pointed out that the petitioner Chittaranjan Sethy filed a number of appeals and complaints under the RTI law and was looking for a wide range of information from various public authorities across ODISHA, which are taking place in this commission.
“From the cases filed by the petitioner in this commission, 61 (35 second appeals and 26 complaints) were reported in 2023 in 2023.
The Commissioner of the Information stated that the applications are repeated and burdened for public authorities.
“The Common Appellant or Compleinant Has Mainly South Information Regarding Development Work, Income, Expenditure and Other Works by Requatedly Filing of Applications from NimaPaRa Block and Gram Panchayat. Meteipur Panchayat and Nima Block in Puri District.
“The applicant Mr. Setha is excluded from the submission of other RTI applications in the commission for one year with an immediate effect, from the date of the statement of this command,” Sic ordered.
In addition, the Commission has limited the number of applications that the applicant may submit according to the law of RTI from public authorities. Mr. Setha can submit a maximum of 12 applications according to the law of RTI before various public authorities in the calendar year.
The Sic command says the analysis revealed that the applicant was looking for information regardless of repeating information from Meteipur Panchayat.
“According to the People census in 2011, Meteipur Panchayat has 250 houses with a population of 1250. In 2023, the applicant filed 61 cases with Panchayat. Therefore, it is assumed that he submitted an average of more than five applications per month using his below,” he pointed out.
Sic also remarked: “It is obvious that most RTI applications are repeated and it seems that it is more annoying to public authorities rather than serve any actual public interest, which provides a clear abuse of the RTI Act.
“The applicant claims that he is investigating corruption within Panchayat Samiti under the block Nimapar. However, his approach does not confirm the correct and legal procedures for solving such complaints,” Mr. Mohanta said.
“Why was Mr. Sethy forced to file so many cases of appeal? Because Pio was denied information in the first place. SIC instead of imposing a fine on Pio for sharing information to the applicant, who was banned. This is a terrible situation in Odish,” and Odisha Sojchan Adhikar).
Mr. Pradhan also pointed out: “According to the spirit of the RTI Act, the Commission should be compassionate to heard the applicant why he submitted so many requests for appeal.
The OSAA Congressor stated that the law did not have the provisions on the penalty of the applicants of the RTI, where the Commission should be responsible for the rejection of information.
Published – September 2025 03:14 IS
