The Odisha Information Commission has successfully slashed its pending Right to Information (RTI) cases from a staggering 22,000 down to just 5,500 within a span of 18 months.
Led by State Chief Information Commissioner Shri Manoj Parida, a high-level delegation—including Commissioners Shri Jagannath Rath, Shri Pranabindu Acharya, Shri Pabitra Mandal, and Smt. Kalpana Pattnaik—called on the Hon’ble Governor of Odisha on Monday to brief him on this historic milestone.
A Tech-Driven and Citizen-Centric Approach
The dramatic reduction was achieved through a targeted special drive. During the briefing, the Commission highlighted several pioneering practices adopted to fast-track justice and improve accessibility for common citizens:
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Same-Day Short Orders: Adopting a best-practice model unique in the country, the Commission now issues short orders on the very day of the hearing, eliminating bureaucratic delays.
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Hearings in Odia: To ensure complete transparency and comprehension, all proceedings and hearings are conducted in the local Odia language.
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Remote Access via Videoconferencing: Recognising the challenges faced by citizens in distant districts, the Commission introduced robust videoconferencing facilities, saving applicants the time and expense of travelling to Bhubaneswar.
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Seamless Digital Integration: The implementation of online application filing and digital order uploading has streamlined communication between applicants, public authorities, and the Commission.
Building Future Legal Talent and Enforcement
Beyond backlog clearance, the Commission has actively invested in community capacity and administrative accountability. Nearly 300 law interns have been integrated into the system, receiving hands-on exposure and training in RTI matters to build future legal awareness.
Furthermore, the Commission assured the Governor of strict enforcement: any cases involving the non-implementation of its orders are directly escalated to the Chief Secretary for swift and appropriate administrative action.
This sweeping overhaul stands as a testament to efficient governance, utilising digital tools and localised communication to deliver prompt and accessible transparency to the citizens of Odisha.
