Introduction to the right to information , How to File RTI, procedure, Right to information act 2005

RTI ACT, 2005 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

In this Article you will find General Introduction of Right to information in India with Procedure of filling RTI through physical as well as through  online mode. 

Under The Right to information act 2005,  any citizen can request information from a public office. This act was introduced in order to ensure greater and more effective access to information, and to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.

The right to information is indisputably a fundamental right, as contained in Article 19(1)a.  It is right of  citizen to know every act done in public way, how government agencies work in democratic setup, in a healthy democracy it is required to give free hands to media and necessary to create awareness. Free and vibrant media is associated with lower corruption and a better response from government. Further citizens have right to elect their representative and to decide by what rules they should be governed, and they are entitle to call on those who govern on their behalf, to maintain the record. For inspection of Public documents  a person can pay requisite fee and would be entitle to copies of those documents. All the citizens of India have the right to information, it is obligatory on the part of public authority to maintain all it's records. 

 

Every public authority  has designated officer/officers as central public information officers or state public information officers, and these officers provide information to those who request. 

Request for obtaining information

A person who is willing to obtain information from public departments, has to write an application in English or Hindi or any official language of that area in which the application is being made, that application must should be accompanied with prescribed fee and to submit it to the officers designated by authorities for such purpose.

            Lets take an example if a person is desires to obtain information related to electricity,  First he need to find who is authorized information officer of PDD department,  you can find that information  from websites of concerned department easily. and then submit written application with prescribed fee to that officer.

If a person cannot write application on its own public information officer will assist that person in writing. while writing an application, applicant is not required to mention reasons why he need information or detail about request. He shall only mention necessary information for contacting him. If an application is made to the authority who does not have access to the information or information belongs to other department, that PIO should transfer the application to concerned department and notice to the applicant about the same.  Applicant after submitting the application will get information within 30 days or request can be rejected on certain reasons. 

Let's see the format of filling application of RTI

Below is the image of format.

It is important to add in heading, to which department you are requesting for info. And next is your address. 

Online filling of RTI 

Next question arises can we file online RTI, the answer is Yes, most of the state governments has enabled this option where you can file RTI through their website. 

Online RTI through websites 

lets take an example how to file online RTI in Jammu and Kashmir, first you need to visit on website for filling of RTI, (filertionline) then ,

'click' on "to fill RTI application form" . 

2nd Step is to Provide personal Information including  'name', 'parentage' , mobile no., e-mail id, address , pin code. etc.

next step is to write RTI details, including  the department name from which you are requesting information and all other details. the website will show you the amount of fee to pay.

the last step is to pay prescribed fee through online mode. 

This Article is Written By Shivaji Rathore, Final year student of LL.B 3years, Department of Law Jammu university. 

         ------------------- ------------------- 

TACIT LEGAL