Report No. 275
6. Maharashtra
1.45 The Maharashtra Right to Information Act, 2000 (repealed by Right to Information Ordinance, 2002) had only nine sections. Section 3(2) of the said Act provided for twenty-two categories of information not required to be disclosed in line with the Tamil Nadu Act.22Section 2(3) of the Act defined 'information' to include "a copy of any document relating to the affairs of the State or any local or other authorities constituted under any Act for the time being in force or a statutory authority or a company, corporation or a co-operative society or any organization, owned or controlled by the Government."
1.46 It may be noted that no criterion for financial linkage, to determine the relationship between the State and private entities, was mentioned in the aforesaid definition. [emphasis added]This Act neither had any provisions for providing information proactively nor any penalties for withholding information.
1.47 In 2002, the State Government passed Maharashtra Right to Information Act, 2002, after persistent efforts of a campaign headed by social activist Shri Anna Hazare. However, after the coming into force of the Central RTI Act, the Government repealed the Maharashtra Right to Information Act, 2002, by the Maharashtra Right to Information (Repeal) Act, 2005.
1.48 The Government then issued the Right to Information Rules, 2005, in exercise of the powers conferred on the State Governments under section 27(2) of RTI Act 2005, providing for the appeals procedure, payment of fees along with other procedural details.