RTI Portals’ Maintenance Woes and Security Concerns Unveiled

The Union government’s RTI portal and the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) RTI portal have encountered significant issues, including emergency maintenance and data leaks. The government’s online RTI portal has been undergoing emergency maintenance for days, hindering users from accessing their filed applications conveniently. Meanwhile, the ECI patched its RTI portal due to a security vulnerability exposing applicants’ data, coordinated by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in).

Furthermore, the ECI’s portal faced challenges with its payment gateway, limiting accepted payment methods. Similarly, users of the government’s RTI Online portal have been unable to view their filed applications’ status due to ongoing maintenance, lasting almost a week. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has not provided any clarification regarding the issues faced by the portals. These incidents underscore the persistent challenges in ensuring the smooth operation and security of government-run RTI portals, imparting transparency and accountability.