Athak Seva Sangh chairman Anil Galgali said one of the new rules stipulate that any request for information must not exceed 150 words, which may deter people, especially semi-literate and from underprivileged sections who lack concise drafting skills, to file RTI.
Amendments like one application-one subject could give discretionary powers to officials to deny information to the public, he said.
Stipulation of a single subject information request mater would give discretionary powers to PIOs to reject applications, result in disputes and delays in getting information, Galgali said.
He appealed to anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare to prevail upon the Maharashtra government to cancel the new rules in the state RTI Act. PTI VT DK