Right to Information Act has been passed by the Indian Parliament in the year 2005. The purpose of RTI is to bring in transparency and accountability in functioning of the government admiration. This is one of the most Popular Act which is very easy to understand even by a common lay man.
This act has brought in tremendous change in the attitude of the government servants and improved efficiencies of government officers.
You should consider below given pointers before filing an RTI.
- Before Filing RT I Application, the applicant must be aware of what information he wants from government department.
- It is only the information in the government records which can be given to the RTI applicant.
- If information is not available in the government record that information cannot be provided to the RTI applicant.
- We cannot ask the question regarding the functioning of the government department.
- There are certain information though available in the government offices but cannot be supplied to RTI Applicant for e.g., investigation report of police, confidential information etc.
- The government of India has exempted certain departments like Nuclear Energy, Intelligence Bureau, RAW etc. from the provision of RTI Act.
- After filing of an RTI Application, The RTI Applicant has to pay Rs. 10 as fees for the RTI Application.
- Those who are living below poverty line are exempted from paying Rs. 10 as pplication fee.
- The Information will be provided to the applicants within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI Application.
- The RTI Applicant can also seek the inspection of the documents from which he intense to seek information.
- It is the duty and responsibility of head of all government offices to appoint as many public information officers and first appellate authority as possible
- It is the duty of the public information officer to provide the information sought by RTI Applicant.
- Under No circumstances the public information officer can refuse to provide information except under section 8(1) of the RTI Act.
- No Government department can refuse the acceptance of RTI Application.
- It is the duty of every department to update their website and upload the information as mandated under section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act