2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (1) " appellate authority " means the concerned Competent Authority mentioned in clause (3) and shall also include such officer or officers authorised by the concerned Competent Authority to act as the Appellate Authority, by general or special order, for the purposes of this Act; (2) " Committee " means the Committee constituted by the Government for the purposes of Section 7(a), under the Chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to the Government and other two members as may be specified by the Government by an order issued in this behalf; (3) " Competent Authority " means,- (i) the Head of every Administrative Department of the State Government; (ii) the Administrative Heads of the public and other authorities ‘in the State; (iii) the Registrar of Co-operative Societies for the Co-operative Societies registered under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies, 1960; (iv) the Registrar of Societies for the Societies registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860; (v) the Charity Commissioner for Charity Commissioner’s Office and the Public Trusts registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950; (vi) the Commissioner of Labour for the trade unions registered with him; (vii) the Secretary of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission for the administrative wing of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission; (viii) the Registrar of the Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas for the Office of Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas; (4) "Government " means the Government of Maharashtra; (5) "Information" means information relating to any matter in respect of the affairs of the Government and of any public authority and includes a copy of any record in the form of a document, diskettes, floppy or any other electronic mode; (6) "public authority " means any authority or body established or constituted by any Central or State law and includes any other body owned and controlled by the State or which receives any aid directly or indirectly by the Government and shall include the bodies whose composition and administration are predominantly controlled by the Government or the functions of such body are of public nature or interest or on which office bearers are appointed by the Government. Explanation - For the purposes of this clause the expression "aid" shall include Government aid in the form of Government land at concessional rates or any other monetory concessions like exemption from tax, etc., by Government as specified by Government, from time to time; (7) "Public Information Officer" means an Officer designated by any Competent Authority under sub-section (I) of Section 5 and shall include such Officer or Employee whose assistance has been taken by the Public Information Officer for the performance of his duties under this Act; (8) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (9) " record" means and includes,- (i) any document, manuscript or file; (ii) any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy of the document; (iii)any reproduction of image or images embodied in such microfilm (whether enlarged or not); and (iv) any other material produced by a computer or by any other device; (iv) any other material produced by computer or by any other device; (10) "State" means the State of Maharashtra. | 
