Mumbai, July 3 -- Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a stay on the Maharashtra government's controversial decision to amend the rules governing the Right to Information (RTI) Act in the state, following widespread backlash and a threat of a hunger strike by veteran social activist Anna Hazare. The Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2026, notified on June 12, proposed several changes, including a hike in the RTI application fee from Rs.10 to Rs.30, mandatory submission of an identity proof, and a restriction that each application should deal with only one subject. While the state government had said the amendments were aimed at improving transparency and streamlining the processing of RTI applications, RTI activists and civil society organisations criticised the move, calling the new rules restrictive. Days later, Hazare threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike from July 5 if the government did not immediately withdraw the "illegal" amendments to the RTI rules. In a letter to the chief minister, the anti-corruption activist said the new rules diluted the spirit of the RTI Act by making it more difficult for citizens to obtain information. He objected to the higher fees, procedural hurdles and the more complicated appeal process. He also demanded that RTI activists and experts be consulted before the rules are finalised. Fadnavis then wrote to the chief information commissioner, Rahul Pande, directing him to stay the newly notified rules, according to officials familiar with the matter. The chief minister asked Pande not to implement the new rules without consulting Hazare. Pande then met Hazare in his village, Ralegan Siddhi, and briefed him on the new framework, but the activist remained firm on his decision to go on a hunger strike. "Our discussion with the respected Anna Hazare focused on the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI) in the state and on making the RTI regime more people-friendly through stronger implementation of proactive disclosure...," said Pande. "We are deeply committed to strengthening the pro-people RTI regime and enforcing it more effectively," he added. RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said, "The amended framework contained serious flaws, some of which were contrary to the parent Act itself. It cannot be denied that some activists seek irrational information. At the same time, some officers also act against the spirit of the Act."...