Telangana CID Under RTI Crosshairs: Silence on Pending Cases Raises Questions
PIO allegedly fails to respond to RTI application seeking status of cases referred to in 2017 CID records
TELANGANA: The Public Information Officer (PIO), Office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Crime Investigation Department (CID), Saifabad, Hyderabad, is facing scrutiny over the alleged failure to respond to an RTI application seeking details of cases referred to in official CID correspondence.
RTI Consultant and Social Activist Ganji Srinivasa Rao filed RTI Application No. 164/2026 on July 23, 2026, dispatched through Speed Post on July 28, 2026.
The application referred to CID Letter C.No.3035/D2/RTI/CID/TS/2017, dated September 12, 2017, and sought:
- Action Taken Reports and present status of the cases.
- FIR/crime numbers, police stations and relevant years.
- Final investigation reports, charge sheets and closure reports.
- Details of pending investigations and recorded reasons for delay.
- Statutory grounds under the RTI Act for withholding any information.
According to Rao, no information or statutory rejection was communicated by the PIO within the prescribed period under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.
RTI LAW REQUIRES A RESPONSE
Section 7(1) requires the PIO to dispose of an RTI application within the prescribed time. If information is denied, the applicant must be informed of the grounds for rejection under the Act.
Silence cannot replace a statutory decision.
If information relates to an ongoing investigation, applicable exemptions under Section 8 may be considered. However, the PIO is required to communicate the decision in accordance with the RTI Act.
ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER SECTION 20
Failure to furnish information within the prescribed period, without reasonable cause, may attract the provisions of Section 20 of the RTI Act.
The applicant may also pursue a First Appeal under Section 19(1) before the designated First Appellate Authority and seek further remedy before the Information Commission, as applicable.
CONDUCT RULES ALSO PROHIBIT DELAY
The Telangana Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 require government servants to maintain integrity, devotion to duty and promptness and prohibit dilatory tactics or wilful delay in disposal of official work.
The competent authorities should therefore examine whether the RTI application was properly received and processed and, if not, fix responsibility in accordance with law.
WAY2RTI QUESTION
If the information can be disclosed, why has it not been provided? If it cannot be disclosed, why has the statutory reason for denial not been communicated?
The Telangana CID should provide a lawful response and ensure accountability for any established failure in processing the RTI application.
The alleged non-response is based on the applicant’s stated record and is subject to verification from official records.
Note: Are you interested in filing an RTI application on the above issue? Interested citizens may send their details to our official email: gsrao@way2rti.com
