RTI

     RTI : Procedure to obtain Information

The Right to Information (RTI) Act in India enables citizens to seek information from government departments and organizations. To obtain information, one must follow a specific procedure.

Firstly, the applicant must write an application, addressing it to the concerned public information officer, and clearly state the information required. Upon submission of the application, a fee is to be paid, which varies depending on the type of information sought. The designated officer then has thirty days to respond to the application, providing the requested information or denying the request with a valid reason. In case of denial, the applicant has the right to appeal within thirty days. The RTI Act has been instrumental in promoting transparency and accountability in the Indian administration, empowering citizens to access information that was previously inaccessible.

The time limit for filing a second appeal under the Right to Information (RTI) Act is crucial. It ensures that individuals have a fair opportunity to further pursue their requests for information if their initial application was not adequately addressed. According to the RTI Act, a second appeal must be filed within ninety days from the date of the first appeal decision or within ninety days from the date by which the first appeal should have been decided. This time limit allows for timely resolution of disputes and promotes transparency and accountability in the government's information-sharing process. It is important to adhere to this deadline to ensure the effectiveness of the RTI Act in providing citizens with the right to access information held by public authorities.

What is Information in RTI?

Section 2(f) of RTI act provides that: "information" means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force

Exemption from disclosure of information in RTI:

1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen,—

(a) information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence;

(b) information which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;

(c) information, the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;

(d) information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information;

(e) information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless the competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information;

(f) information received in confidence from foreign Government;

(g) information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes;

(h) information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders;

(i) cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers:

Provided that the decisions of Council of Ministers, the reasons thereof, and the material on the basis of which the decisions were taken shall be made public after the decision has been taken, and the matter is complete, or over:

Provided further that those matters which come under the exemptions specified in this section shall not be disclosed;

(j) information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information:

Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923) nor any of the exemptions permissible in accordance with sub-section (1), a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests.

(3) Subject to the provisions of clauses (a), (c) and (i) of sub-section (1), any information relating to any occurrence, event or matter which has taken place, occurred or happened twenty years before the date on which any request is made under section 6 shall be provided to any person making a request under that section:

Provided that where any question arises as to the date from which the said period of twenty years has to be computed, the decision of the Central Government shall be final, subject to the usual appeals provided for in this Act.

RTI Request

V

Response within 30 Days (35 for Third Party)

V

(48 hrs in case of Life and Liberty)

V

First Appeal within 30 Days of Request (if not responded) or Response

V

Response of first appeal within 30 Days (45 extended)

V

Second appeal within 90 Days of First appeal (if not responded) or Response