2. ?[ 2(i) & (j)]
Definition of a Public Authority. [Sec 2(h)]
Request of Information under Section 4 or 6
RTI Application ?
6(3)
Disposal of Request
Fees( )
- 2(h)
Format of the Application
1st Appeal
2nd Appeal
Penalties
3. Section 2(i): "record" includes—
(a) any document, manuscript and file;
(b) any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy
of a document;
(c) any reproduction of image or images
embodied in such microfilm (whether enlarged
or not); and
(d) any other material produced by a computer
or any other device;
4. Section 2(h):
"public authority" means any authority or body or
institution of self- government established or
constituted—
(a) by or under the Constitution ;
(b) by any other law made by Parliament ;
(c) by any other law made by State Legislature
;
(d) by notification issued or order made by the
appropriate Government,
and includes any—
(i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed;
(ii) non-Government organization
substantially financed,
directly or indirectly by funds provided by the
appropriate Government;
5. Suo Moto Disclosures- 4
17 points under Section 4(b) defines the Suo
moto disclosures.
E.g.
Otherwise, any citizen of India can file a RTI
application under section 6.
6. Every Govt. Dept. has a Public Information
Officer(PIO) - for this
purpose.
CPIO at the
Centre Govt. Departments and
SPIO at State
Govt. departments.
You can find this out easily from the
internet.
Incase you do not know who PIO is, you can
just address it to the ‘Public Info. Officer,
Name of the Department’.
8. You can pay fees either by Demand Draft or
Postal order.
The most convenient is Postal order
, which can easily be purchased from a Post
Office
9. 2(h) -
(i) inspection of work, documents, records;
(ii) taking notes, extracts or certified
copies of documents or records;
(iii)
taking certified samples of material
(iv) obtaining information in the form of
diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes
or in any other electronic mode or through
printouts where such information is stored
in a computer or in any other device;
10. You can draft your application in English,
Hindi or any regional language.
You can draft in on a simple blank page.
Some departments have already made a
sample format on their website, but it’s
not mandatory.
Mention duration of the Information
required.
Any number of questions can be asked.
Questions should be precise an to the
point.
11. Ask for the unique file number, in your
RTI.
You can also mention an inspection
clause.
Information asked must be on record.
Always remember to take a photocopy of
your application and DD/IPO before filing
a RTI.
Always send it through speed post or
Registered post.
If possible, attach a Acknowledgement
with the RTI.
12.
13. Rs 10 is the fees for obtaining information
from any Central Govt. Office/ Department.
However, some State Govt. have amended
the RTI Act.
This can be checked on the internet.
No fees shall be charged from people who
are of BPL(Below Poverty line).
At maximum, information should be provided
within 30 days.
Section 7(3): Further fees of Rs 2/page and
Rs 50/CD shall be charged.
14. Section 19(1):
Besides the Public Information Officer, every
Public Authority must appoint an officer to
whom 1st appeal be made.
If you do not get the reply to your RTI within
30 days, or, you are not satisfied with the
reply, you can make a appeal to the 1st
Appellate Authority within 30 days from such
decision.
The reply of 1st appeal must come within 30
days.
15. Section 19(3):
If you are not satisfied with the reply of 1st
appeal, or, you do not get any reply, you can
file a complaint(2nd Appeal) with State
Information commission(SIC) or Central
information Commission(CIC).
2nd Appeal must be filed within 90 days from
date of the decision made by First Appellate
Authority .
16. Section 20(1):
The SIC/ CIC shall impose a penalty of Rs
250/day till application is received or
information is furnished, so however, the
total amount of such penalty shall not
exceed Rs 25,000.