An Article on how to file RTI Act (Right To Information)

RTI How to get information

Any citizen of India who desires to obtain any information under the Right to Information Act, 2005 may make a request to the Public Information Officer/Assistant Public Information Officer, preferably in the application format, in writing or through electronic means.

Keep three things in Mind,

1) Attach a court fee stamp of rs.10/- with every RTI application. In case of filing RTI in a central govt office, attach a postal order of Rs.10/- instead of court fee stamp. This fee is exempted for below poverty level people. but for that you have to attach BPL certificate.

2) It is necessary to have an extra copy of the application on which the public information officer will give you stamp of his dept and write 'copy received'. this will a proof of application filed.

3) Public Information Officer (PIO) is supposed to give the demanded information within 30 calender days.

You can file an appeal to his senior Information officer if information is not received in 30 days/ information received is incorrect or partial. Do not forget to mention in the appeal to fine the PIO. Law prescribes Rs. 250/- per day fine for the PIO if the information is not received within the prescribed time.

APPLICATION FORMAT FOR INFORMATION UNDER RTI ACT 2005 To The Public Information Officer/ Asstt. Public Information Officer

Application under RTI Act 2005

• Name of the applicant:

• Address of the Applicant:

• Subject of Information:

• Details of Information: ( please enclose separate sheet, if required, indicating specific details of information required and the preferred medium i.e. inspection, photocopy, softcopy, etc. This includes specific details like duration of information is required etc.)

• Applicant is from below poverty line: Yes/ No

• Send information by post/ register post/ I'll collect the information by hand.

DECLARATION I state that the information sought does not fall within the restriction contained in Section 8 & 9 of the RTI Act and to the best of my knowledge it pertains to your office.


Place:_________
Date :___________

Signature of the applicant.

Some guidelines :

While filing an RTI application, the framing of the questions is very important. A slight misunderstanding or vague questions gives the Public Information Officer a chance to reject your application. Follow these guidelines:

• Use a white sheet of paper to write an application. There is no need to using Note-sheet, or the Court stamp paper. You can use your letter pad for asking for information.
• The matter can be hand written, or typed. There is no compulsion of typing the content.
• Make sure the application is legible and easy to read.
• There is no restriction on number of pages for asking information.
• There are also no restriction on number of questions that can be asked in one application. However, it is generally advisable to ask restrict one application with limited set of questions and generally related ones.

• Be very specific & ask to the point questions. Don't ask vague questions.
• Ask as many short questions as you like ,but don't ask for voluminous information.
• Ask information always by writing your name and signature, and not by your post, as only citizen have the right to information.
• Do not ask a question containing 'WHY'! For example, questions like why you failed to pass the bill, is liable to be rejected for not covering under RTI Act.
• You can ask for reasons behind a "administrative" or a "quasi-judicial" decision under Section 4(1)(d), especially if you are a "affected person"
• If the information sought is voluminous, it is better to ask it in the form of CD to save on cost.
• Remember that, you do not need to write the reason for asking the information.
• Mention the payment details like BC/DD/IPO number, issuing bank/post office, date, cash receipt details , etc., towards the end of your application

For more details about RTI please do visit :

http://rti.gov.in

Also read the content and success stories at :

http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/content/

Benefits under RTI Act 2005

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 EMPOWERS EVERY CITIZEN TO :

1) Ask questions to the government or seek information
2) Take copies of government documents and inspect them
3) Take samples of materials of government work and inspect them
4) The Act provides for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.