RTI

The Right to Information Act, 2005 (15th June, 2005).

a)      It is expedient for a public authority to provide certain information to the citizens who desire to have it.

OBLIGATION FOR PUBLIC AUTHORITY

OBJECTIVES:

·         a)     To ensure greater and effective access to information under the control of public authorities.

·         b)     To promote transparency and accountability in working of public institutions/organization.

What does it include?

·         a)     Statutory provisions made for Right to Information.

·         b)     Public authority is under the obligation to provide information within 30 days from the date of request in normal cases or within 48hours, if information is a matter of life or liberty of a person.

What does Right to Information mean?

·         a)     Inspection of work, Document Records

·         b)     Taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records

·         c)      Taking certified samples of material.

What does information mean?

Information means any material in any form including

a)     Record

b)     Documents

c)      Memos

d)     E-Mails

e)     Opinions

f)       Advices

g)     Press Releases

Record Means

·         a)     Any Document manuscript and file

·         b)     Any Microfilm, Microfiche, Facsimile copy of a document

·         c)      Any reproduction of the image embodied in such microfilm

·         d)     Any other material produced by a computer or any other device

Institutional setup

LEVEL 1:

Individual institution /organization/Department/Office/Establishment will have:

·         a)     Public information officer Pio (Designated)

·         b)     Assistant Pio (Designated)

Pio/Apio may seek the assistance of any other officer and this officer for the purpose of contravention of the provisions of this act shall be treated as a PIO/APIO

Appellant Authority:

LEVEL 2: At state Government Level will have: The State Information Commission, The State Chief Information Commissioner,The State Information Commissioners (not exceeding 10)

LEVEL 3: At Central Government Level will have   The Central Information Commission, The Chief Information Commissioner, and The Central Information Commissioners (< 10) Making Request?

TO WHOM? 

PIO 

APIO

HOW TO REQUEST?

·         a)     In writing or through electronic means

·         b)     In English or Hindi or Official Language

·         c)      Accompanying Fees(Prescribed)

·         d)     Free for BPL

·         e)     Disposal of request

·         f)       Register the Request

·         g)     Acknowledge the receipt of Fees (BPL NO)

·         h)     Information with another authority –Transfer it immediately (within 5 days with intimation )

Rejection?

    If decision is not given in writing within 30 days ---Deemed to have refused

a)     Communicate in writing

b)     Reasons of Rejection

c)      The period of Appeal

d)     The particulars of appellate authority

Exemption from Disclosure

·          Information Affecting

·         a)     Sovereignty and integrity of India

·         b)     The security

·         c)      The strategic scientific or economic interests of the state

·         d)     Foreign Relation

·         e)     Leading to incitement of offences

·         f)       Information forbidden to be published by any court of Law/Constituting contempt of court

1.        If Public interest in disclosure outweigh the harm to the protected interest

2.       The information which cannot be denied to the parliament or state legislature hall not be denied to any personseverability / Part information

·         a)     Severe from any part that contains exempt information

·         b)     If access is given to the part of record

·         Third party information

·         a)     Means a person other than the citizen making the request and includes a public authority

·         b)     Information which –Relates to or supplied by a 3^rd party and treated as confidential by 3^rd party

Appeal:

·         a)     Any person who

·         b)     Does not receive the decision within 30 days

·         c)      Aggrieved by a decision

·         d)     May prefer appeal with

·         e)     Officer senior in rank to PIO

·         f)       Within 30 days from (condonation allowed) the receipt to decision

Penalities:

FOR WHAT?

·         a)    Refusal to receive the request

·         b)     Information not given

·         c)      Malafidely denied the request

·         d)     Knowingly the incorrect, incomplete or misleading information

·         e)     Destroying information which was the subject of request

·         f)       Obstruction in any manner in furnishing the information

Bar of jurisdiction of court

          No jurisdiction of civil court

 Monitoring and reporting

·         CIC/SIC will make annual report of its implementation and report to the Govt

·         Each public authority shall provide such information to SIC/CIC

Report of:

·         a)     Number of such requests

·         b)     No. of decisions

·         c)      No. of appeals referred to CIS/SIC, Nature and outcome of the appeals

·         d)     Particulars of any disciplinary action taken against any offices

Includes are:

·         a)     The houses of Parliament

·         b)     The state Legislature

·         c)      The Supreme Court

·         d)     The High Court and all other Courts

·         e)     Constitutional Authorities like EC,CAG,UPSC

·         f)       Institutions of Self Government

·         g)     Organizations/Institutions excluded

·         h)     Central Intelligence and Security Agencies

·         Ø  IB.RAW

·         Ø  Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

·         Ø  DIR. Enforcement

·         Ø  Narcotics Control Bureau

·         Ø  Aviation Research Center

·         Ø  Special Frontiers Force

·         Ø  All others mentioned in schedule II     

Exemptions not applicable

·         a)     Information to Legislature

·         b)     If Public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interest

·         c)   Occurrences, Events after 20 years except

·         Ø  Security

·         Ø  Contempt of Court

·         Ø  Cabinet

Points to remember:

·         a)     It comes into force on the 12^th October,2005

·         b)     Some provisions have already come in to force VIZ.

·         Ø  Obligation of the Public Authorities

·         Ø  Designation of PIOS/APIOS/BY28TH, Sep, 2005

·         Ø  Constitution of CIC and state info. Comm.

·         Ø  Non applicability of act to Intelligence and security Agencies

·         Ø  Power to make rules

Obligations of Public Authorities

·         a)     To maintain and catalogue all the record or computerize the record and connect through network

·         b)     To publish within 120 days( Form 15-6-2005)

Ø  Particulars of organization, functions, duties

Ø  All the relevant information pertaining to the organization( as stated in Sec 4)

·         Disseminate information easily accessible to the public 

1.         Any body who wants any information may apply  :

a)     On a simple  application

b)     May contact PIO/APIO in the office.

c)      May ask by mail by sending e-mail on mcs_shimla@yahoo.com 

d)     The charges for applications are as under: 1.                   

e)      The Architect Planner is P.I.O. relating to construction, encroachments and deviation matters of buildings. 

1.        Application Fee under R.T.I. Act is Rs. 10 through I.P.O. of Bank Draft. 

2.       Copying fee under R.T.I. Act is Rs. 2/-(Rs. Two) per copy through I.P.O., Bank Draft or Cash.