'Lack of transparency' : TGTDC declines to reply to RTI queries about Miss World 2025 event

Hyderabad: Telangana Tourism Development Corporation (TFTDC) has declined to provide answers to queries related to the recently concluded Miss World 2025 event.

Hyderabad-based RTI activist Kareem Ansari has alleged a lack of transparency and deliberate attempts to suppress crucial information related to the state’s involvement.

Ansari filed a Right to Information (RTI) application with the Chief Secretary, which was subsequently forwarded to the Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture (YAT&C) Department and the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation (TGTDC).

The application sought details about the government’s role in the event, including financial expenditure, signed MoUs, permissions granted, and use of public resources.

In a reply dated July 22, the Public Information Officer (PIO) of TGTDC declined to provide answers to all ten queries, stating that the information “does not pertain to TGTDC.” This included queries about budget allocation, security arrangements, use of public venues, and official correspondence.

Moreover, the PIO refused to share copies of MoUs or agreements between the state and the Miss World organization, citing Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, which protects commercially sensitive information from disclosure.

Calling the response unjustified, Ansari accused the authorities of misusing the RTI exemption clause. “These are public agreements funded by taxpayer money—not private deals. The PIO has failed to show how releasing these documents would cause commercial harm,” he stated.

He also criticized the lack of response to questions about the use of government venues, deployment of security personnel, and potential state-sponsored media coverage during the event. “This wasn’t just a beauty pageant—it was a state-backed event promoted heavily. The refusal to disclose details raises serious concerns about the use of public resources and accountability,” Ansari stated.

The activist further pointed to a broader systemic issue in the state’s handling of public information, citing the repeated transfer of the RTI application between departments without a clear resolution.

“It’s disappointing that the government is unwilling to be transparent about an international event held in the state capital, particularly when it likely involved significant public spending,” he added.

Ansari has now urged the Telangana government to proactively disclose all relevant details of such high-profile events—including financial statements, permissions granted, and official communications—in line with its obligations under the RTI Act.