AMITY LAW SCHOOL

AMITY UNIVERSITY
LUCKNOW

TOPIC-RTI ACT, 2005

SESSION : 2017-2022

Submitted To : Submitted By:

Faculty Ma’am

Mrs.. Juhi Srivastava

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The completion of this undertaking could not have been possible without the
participation and assistance of so many people whose name may not all be enumerated .
Their contributions are sincerely appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. However , I
would like to express my deep appreciation and indebtedness particularly to the
following :

Class coordinator Juhi ma’am for her endless support , kind and understanding
spirit during my project.

To all relatives , friends and others who in one way or another shared their support
, either morally , financially and physically , thank you .

Above all , to the GREAT ALMIGHTY , the author of knowledge and wisdom ,
for his countless love .

THANKING YOU .
 TABLE OF CONTENT
S.no Topic Page no.
1 Introduction 4

2 Origin of RTI Act , 2005 4-5

3 What is Right to Information ? 5-6

4 Objective 6-10

5 How to file an RTI ? 10-16

6 Feature of RTI 16-19

7 Challenges and guideline for use of RTI online portal 19-20

INTRODUCTION

The right to Information Act 2005 which came fully into effect on12th October
2005 is one of the most significant legislation enacted by the Parliament in India. It
is a major step towards more accountable and transparent government. RTI has
been enacted to provide 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. The Act will certainly lead to
end the culture of governmental secrecy andfulfil its potential as a truly great
democracy.

ORIGIN OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005

The first and far most well-known right to information movement in India was the
MazdoorKisan Shakti Sanghatan (MKSS), an organization for the empowerment
of workers and landless workers and rural poor, which began its right to
information work in Rajasthan during the early 1990s. The MKSS started grass
route movement, demanding access to government information on behalf of wage
workers and small farmers who were often deprived of their rightful wages or their
just benefits under the government sechemes.Through their innovative concept of
jansunvai or public hearing MKSS started demanding information from local
authorities regarding the wages, muster rolls, materials used for the construction of
roads during famine relief work. From the modest beginning in the villages of
Rajasthan the success of MKSS has been a source of inspiration for activists in
India demanding the information from the bureaucracy and the government. The
struggle of MKSS activists led to a nationwide demand for law to guarantee the
RTI to every citizen, with wide spread support from social activists, professionals,
lawyers and media who are committed to transparent and accountable governance
and people‘s empowerment. The MKSS movement in Rajasthan was a turning
point in the RTI movement and showed that even illiterate, socially mute and
exploited labourers could assert and get their other rights conceded by the invoking
the RTI. The social movements in Rajasthan and other states led to the formation
of the National Campaign for People‘s Right to Information in 1996. Various State
RTI laws were passed during this period, including TamilNadu, Delhi,
Maharashtra Karnataka, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Goa.Finally, the national
Freedom of 161 Information Act was pass in 2002. However, this Act was not
notified and the newly elected government (after General Election in 2004), got the
Right to Information Act passed in Parliament in 2005.

What is Right to Information ?

RTI stands for Right to Information. Right to Information Act 2005 mandates
timely response to citizen requests for government information. Right to
Information empowers every citizen to seek any information from the Government,
inspect any Government documents and seek certified photocopies thereof. Right
to Information also empowers citizens to official inspect any Government work or
to take the sample of material used in any work.

Right to Information is a part of fundamental rights under Article 19(1) of the

Constitution. Article 19 (1) says that every citizen has freedom of speech and
expression.

Even though RTI is a fundamental right, still we need RTI Act to give us this right.
This is because if you went to any Government Department and told the officer
there, “RTI is my fundamental right and that I am the master of this country.
Therefore, please show me all your files”, he would not do that. In all probability,
he would throw you out of his room. Therefore, we need a machinery or a process
through which we can exercise this fundamental right. Right to Information Act
2005, which became effective on 13th October 2005, provides that machinery.
Therefore, Right to Information Act does not give us any new right. It simply lays
down the process on how to apply for information, where to apply, how much fees
etc.

Government information is national resource. Neither the particular government of

the day nor public officials create information for their own benefits. Government
and officials are trustees of this information for the people. The RTI act enables the
citizens to obtain access under the law to documents that may otherwise be
available only at the discretion of government. The RTI Act 2005 provides
effective access to information for citizens of India, which is under the control of
public authorities. This overrides the ―official Secrets Act‖ and similar laws and
rules. The Act primarily envisages setting out a 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. Right to Information means the right to information
accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public
authority and includes the right to: -

(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 shared in a computer or in any other device.
(v) Every information held by or under the control of a public authority is
accessible to a citizen, unless information is exempt from disclosure.

Objective of RTI Act ?

The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens,
promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government,
contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense. An
informed citizenry will be better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the
instruments of government and make the government more accountable to the
governed.

The Scheme of RTI Act

The Parliament recognized that proper and efficient functioning of a democracy
requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information and that such
transparency is vital for checking corruption and to hold governance and their
instrumentalities accountable to the citizen of the country. The Parliament was also
conscious that random and uncontrolled revelation of information is likely to
conflict with other public interests including efficient operations of the governance,
optimum use of limited fiscal resources and preservation of confidentiality of
sensitive information.

In its endeavour to balance out and harmonize these conflicting interests while
preserving the paramountcy of the democratic idea, the Parliament enacted the RTI
Act. The object of the RTI Act is to set out a 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
public authorities.

Sec. 4 of the Act imposes an obligation on public authorities to maintain its records
duly catalogued and indexed in a manner and form which facilitates the right to
information under the Act.

Sec. 6 of the Act entitles a person desirous of obtaining any information under the
Act, to make a request in writing to the Central or State Public Information Officer
specifying the particulars of the information sought by him. The applicant is not
required to give any reason as to why he is requesting for the information.

Sec. 7 of the Act requires the Public Information Officer to either provide the
information or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in Secs. 8 and 9
within 30 days of receipt of the request. If the Officer fails to give a decision on the
request within 30 days, he shall be deemed to have refused the request.

Under Sec. 19, if a person does not receive a decision within 30 days or is
aggrieved by a decision of the Public Information Officer, he may prefer an appeal
to an Officer who is senior in rank to the Public Information Officer in that Public
Authority.

A second appeal is provided for against the order passed in the first appeal before
the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission as the
case may be. The powers of the Information Commission are enacted in Sub-Sec.
9 of Sec. 19 which includes the power to require the Public Authority to
compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered and/or to
impose any of the penalties provided under the RTI Act.

Sec. 20 of the Act empowers the Information Commission to impose penalty on

the Public Information Officer if the Commission is of the opinion that the Officer
without any reasonable cause refused to receive an application for information or
has not furnished the information sought for within the specified time under Sec.
7(1) or mala fidely denied the request for information or knowingly has given
incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information which
was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the
information.
Sec. 22 of the Act is a non- obstante clause giving overriding effect to the
provisions of the Act.

Under Sec. 25, the Information Commission is required after the end of each year
to prepare a report on the implementation of the provisions of the Act during that
year and forward a copy thereof to the appropriate Government.

What you can do with RTI ?

Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen may request information from a
“public authority” (a body of Government or “instrumentality of State”) which is
required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. The Act also requires every
public authority to computerise their records for wide dissemination and to
proactively disclose certain categories of information so that the citizens need
minimum recourse to request for information formally. This law was passed by
Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came fully into force on 12 October 2005.

Right to Information includes the right to: Inspect works, documents, records. Take
notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records. Take certified samples
of material. Obtain information in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes,
video, cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts. “information”
means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails,
opinions, advice, 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.

“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;

The public authority under the RIT Act is not supposed to create information, or to
interpret information; or to solve the problems raised by the applicants; or to
furnish replies to hypothetical questions. Only such information can be had under
the Act which already exists with the public authority.
Who is covered under RTI?
The Central RTI Act extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and
Kashmir. All bodies, which are constituted under the Constitution or under any law
or under any Government notification or all bodies, including NGOs, which are
owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Government are covered.

All private bodies, which are owned, controlled or substantially financed by the
Government are directly covered. Others are indirectly covered. That is if a
government department can access 1information from any private body under any
other Act, the same can be accessed by the citizen under the RTI Act through that
government department.

Why RTI is a success ?

This is because, or the first time in the history of independent India, there is a law
which casts a direct accountability on the officer for non-performance. If the
concerned officer does not provide information in time, a penalty of Rs 250 per
day of delay can be imposed by the Information Commissioner. If the information
provided is false, a penalty of a maximum of Rs 25,000/- can be imposed. A
penalty can also be imposed for providing incomplete or for rejecting your
application for malafide reasons. This fine is deducted from the officer’s personal
salary.

The Right to Information Act, simply known as RTI, is a revolutionary Act that
aims to promote transparency in government institutions in India. The Act came
into existence in 2005, after sustained efforts of anti-corruption activists.
It is termed revolutionary because it opens government organisations up for
scrutiny. Equipped with knowledge about RTI, a common man can demand any
government agency to furnish information. The organisation is bound to provide
the information, that too within 30 days, failing which the officer concerned is
slapped with a monetary fine.
When did RTI begin ?
RTI Act has been made by legislation of Parliament of India on 15 June 2005. The
Act came into effect on 12 October 2005 and has been implemented ever since to
provide information to crores of Indian citizens. All the constitutional authorities
come under this Act, making it one of the most powerful laws of the country.
The following Q&A will help you get familiar with the Act and how to use it.

1. How to File RTI ?

Every Indian should know about RTI filing.The procedure to File RTI is simple
and hassle-free.

o Write the application (or get it typed, your choice) on a paper in

English/Hindi/the official language of the state. Some states have prescribed
format for RTI applications. Address it to the PIO (Public Information
Officer) of the department concerned.
o Ask specific questions. See to it that they are clear and complete, and not
confusing whatsoever.
o Write your full name, contact details and address, where you want the
information/response to your RTI be sent.
o Take a photocopy of the application for your record. If you're sending the
application by post, it's advisable to send it via registered post, as then you
will have an acknowledgement of your request's delivery. If you're
submitting the application to the PIO in person, remember to take an
acknowledgement from him/her.

Some important points:

o The Act is so people-friendly that if an illiterate person approaches a PIO

and wants some info under the RTI, he/she can tell his requirement to the
PIO and the officer is obliged to write it down for them and read it to them
before processing it.
 o One need not write the application on a clean sheet of paper. Even a
crumpled, old, torn piece of paper will do, so long as your written content on
it is legible.
o Until the RTI Act empowered the common man to demand information from
government, only the members of Parliament had the privilege of seeking
this information.
o If you are hesitant about sending your RTI application by post and can't take
a day off work to catch hold of the PIO concerned, you can go to your post
office and submit your application to the assistant PIO. The postal
department has appointed many APIOs across its many offices. Their job is
to receive RTI applications and forward them to the PIO or appellate
authority concerned.

2. How to File Online RTI ?

Currently, Central and a few State government departments have facility for
filing Online RTI.However, there are multiple independent websites that let
you file your application online. They charge you a nominal amount, for which
they draft your application and send it to the relevant department. This is as
good as sending an RTI application without having to worry about the
particulars.

3. Which Government Organisations are required to give RTI

information under RTI Act ?

All government agencies, whether they are under a state government or the
Centre, come under the purview of the Act. For example, Municipal
Corporations, PSUs (Public Sector Units), Government departments, Ministries
at the State as well as Central level, Judiciary, Government owned Companies,
Government Universities, Government Schools, Works Departments, Road
Authorities, Provident Fund department etc. The list is quite an exhaustive one.
 You can ask a government how much money is being spent on renovation of its
ministers' bungalows, what their telephone bill or fuel expenditure is. Or you
can ask what amount was spent on MLAs'/MPs' foreign trips.
You can ask how much of allocated money your elected representatives have
utilised on improving their constituency; you are entitled to ask for even a
break-up of the amount spent, project-wise. This RTI information is available
because it is the taxpayers' money that is being spent here. Few ministries and
departments make online rti replies available to the public. You can see them on
the respective websites.
Not only governments and their departments, but also smaller units such as your
city corporation or gram panchayat fall under the ambit of RTI. Be it police,
passport office, your electricity/water supply company or even the IRCTC, all
are required to furnish RTI information.

Through RTI, we can get copies of government documents such as records,

advices/opinions, reports, papers, file notings. Even email communications and
data held in electronic form has to be made available to citizens upon an RTI
application. We can even go to the department’s office and inspect their records
and documents, if at all the RTI information is voluminous you can take
photocopies, obtain certified copies, take printouts and what not.

4. Which Government Departments are exempted from the Act ?

Twenty-odd organisations are exempted from RTI. But all these entities are
related to the country's defence and intelligence, such as RAW, BSF, CRPF,
CISF, Intelligence Burearu, National Security Guard etc.
Further, there are some specific instances whereby RTI information cannot be
furnished. These instances relate to matters which:

o Would affect national security, sovereignty, strategic, economic and/or

scientific interest.
o Have been disallowed by the court to be released.
o Have been disallowed by the court to be released.
o Relates to trade secrets or intellectual property, information which might
affect/harm the competitive position of a third party.
o Relates to information under fiduciary relationship.
o Relates to foreign government information.
o Would affect the life/physical safety of any person.
o Would affect the process of an investigation.
o Relates to cabinet papers.
o Relates to personal information without any public interest.

However, RTI law says that any information which cannot be denied to a
Member of Parliament or state legislature cannot be denied to any citizen.

5. How to use RTI to solve personal problems ?

Be it never-ending delay in dispatch of passport or police dilly-dallying in

giving you a copy of FIR you might have filed, submit an RTI application
asking pointed questions. Highly likely this will be the beginning of the end of
your woes. Pending income tax return, pension's release, withdrawal or
transfer of PF, release of Aadhaar card or issuance of property documents
or driving licence. Using the RTI tool in any of these scenarios—or other cases
involving a government agency—will guarantee you an official response, based
on which you can take things further if your issue is not solved.
A citizen can ask government officials reasons for delay in government service
requested for. For example, if you have applied for passport and it has not been
delivered. Then one can apply RTI with the following questions:

o Please provide daily progress done on my passport application.

o Please provide names of officers with whom my application has been lying
during this period.
o Please inform as per your citizen’s charter in how many days I should have
got my passport.
 In majority of cases, the problem gets resolved. This way you can use RTI to
solve many other pending issues and especially the ones where bribe is being
asked.

6. How to use RTI to solve problems in the community?

If in your community, you think the facilities are not as expected or you observe
some government maintained property in bad condition, you can use RTI to get
the government working on it.
For instance, if there is a road in very bad condition you can ask the following
questions:

o How much money has been spent on the development of road in past 3
years?
o How was the money spent?
o Please provide a copy of the orders

7. How to solve problems using RTI ?

Which Personal Problems can be solved using RTI

o Pending Income Tax return

o Delayed PF withdrawal
o Delayed PF Transfer
o Delayed Passport
o Delayed Aadhar card
o Delayed IRCTC Refund
o Copies of answer sheets
o Property Documents like Occupancy Certificate/Completion Certificate
o Status of FIR
o Status of a complaint
o Status of EPF
o Delay in Scholarship

8. Which Social Problems can be solved using RTI ?

o Fix roads with pot holes
o Conduct social audit of government projects
o Know how your MP/MLA spent the fund allocated to him
o Know how a particular government project or scheme was implemented
9. How powerful is RTI Act and how is RTI any different from other anti-
corruption laws?

When it comes to RTI, there are watchdogs on multiple levels to ensure the Act
is followed in letter and spirit. The Act has employed a 'perform or perish'
approach, besides setting up a mechanism to dispense information.
Every government organisation is needed to appoint one employee as a public
information officer (PIO). Once a department gets an RTI request, it is the
responsibility of the PIO to furnish the information to the applicant within 30
days. Failing to do so means, a monetary fine can be imposed on the PIO. The
longer a PIO makes an applicant wait, the more the penalty levied on him/her.
There have been instances where PIOs have been asked to cough up amount in
thousands of rupees as fine.
Every state has an Information Commission, comprising a Chief Information
Commissioner and a few information commissioners. Former judges, IAS, IPS
officers of impeccable record are appointed to these positions by the
government. Above them in the hierarchy is the Central Information
Commission and below them are first and second appellate authorities to see to
it that an applicant does get the RTI information he/she has requested.

10. How many days does it take to get RTI response?

As per law, the RTI information should be provided in 30 days. However,
sometimes government records are misplaced or missing. Or the agency you've
written to needs to co- ordinate with another department to provide you the
information you want. In such situations, the information may take more than
30 days to arrive. In such case, the PIO concerned needs to send you a written
intimation about the possible delay and the reason. If he/she fails to do so and
you don't receive the info within 30 days, penalty can be levied on the PIO if
the matter taken up with appellate authorities.

11. What is the fee for seeking information under the RTI ?

For central government departments one needs to pay Rs. 10 with every RTI
application. Mode of payment may vary from government to government.
While submitting application in person, some organisations accept cash while
some do not. Some ask for Court Fee Stamp, some ask for Indian postal order
(IPO). When sending an RTI application by post, we can use IPO/ court fee
stamp of Rs. 10.
Those below poverty line (BPL) do not have to pay Rs. 10 as fee for filing an
RTI.
If you've asked the government office to furnish copies of some records, you
will need to pay Rs. 2 per page. Once the office receives your request and
ascertains the amount you will need to pay towards making copies, you will get
intimation via post. You can make the payment by sending postal order/court
fee stamp/demand draft of the said amount.

12. Is RTI act different for different states ?

The central government has come up with RTI act which is applicable in all
states except Jammu and Kashmir which has its own act very similar to central
act.
Each state has extended central act with state specific rules which contain rules
on RTI fees, mode of payment, RTI application form and sometimes a limit on
number of words or questions.
FEATURES OF RTI
The Act extends to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir.

All citizens shall have the right to information, subject to provisions of the Act.
The RTI empowers the citizens to ask any question or seek any information from
government authorities be it Central, State or Local governments.

It shall apply to Public Authorities which means any authority or body or

institution of self-government established or constituted by or under the
Constitution; by any law made by the appropriate Government or, any other body
owned, controlled or substantially financed directly or indirectly by the appropriate
Government, and includes non-government organisation substantially financed by
the government.

The Act lays down the machinery for the grant of access to information. The
Public Authorities are required to designate Public Information Officer and
Assistant Public Information Officer with in the hundred days of enactment to
accept the request forms and provide information. The Public Information
Officers/Assistant Public Information Officers will be responsible to deal with the
requests for information and also to assist persons seeking information.

The Act envisages creation of an independent non-judicial machinery , Central

Information Commission, State Information Commission. Legal Framework of
exercise of powers by the Commission is defined in the Act.

The Act also provides the two- tier Appellate forum. First appeal is to be made to
the departmental officer senior to the Public Information Officer. The second
appeal is to be made to State Commission.

Fee will be payable by the applicant depending on the nature of information

sought.

Time limit has been prescribes for the compliance of information depending upon
the information requirements.

Certain categories of information have been exempted from the disclosure under
Section 8and 9 of the Act like conduct of International Relations, security of the
State, trade and commercial secrets ,intelligence agency etc.
Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions monitor
the implementation of the Act and prepare an Annual report to be laid before the
Parliament / State legislatures.

RTI AND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN

GOVERNMENT
Democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which
are vital for its functioning and also to contain corruption and to hold governments
and their representatives accountable to the governed.

The greater the access to the information the greater would be the responsiveness
of government to the needs of the people. Wihtout information people cannot
exercise their rights and duties.

RTI is major step towards more accountable and transparent government. It will
certainly lead to end the culture of governmental secrecy and fulfil its potential as a
truly great democracy.

The Act provides for setting out the practical regime of right to information under
the control of public authority in order to promote transparency and accountability
in the working of every public authority.

The promulgation of this Act set the stage for the transparency in the functioning
of the government and its various agencies.

Under this Act access to information from public agency has become a statutory
right of every citizen. Ordinary citizens do not have much information about how
decisions are made and hoe public resources utilizes. Right to Information Act is a
vehicle for greater transparency about the manner of functioning of public
agencies.

Before this Act, the accountability of public authority was practicably minimal.
By this Act the citizens can now question, audit, review, examine, access
government records, acts, decisions to ensure that these are consistent with the
principles of public interest, good governance and justice. This act promotes
transparency and accountability in administration. The act provides for framework
for promotion of citizen-government partnership in carrying out the programmes
for the welfare of the people.

When the government is transparent, there is less chance for corruption and more
room for accountability.

People feel more powerful, their bargaining power vis-à-vis public officials has
increased manifold.

The Act has definitely resulted in a greater transparency in governance. The Act
has become powerful instrument for citizens and social activists to access
information from the bureaucracy and thereby ensures greater accountability and
transparency in decision making.

The Act aimed to concentrate power in the hands of the citizens who may demand,
even without giving a reason, any information which they think will help them
exercise their rights more effectively and take an informed decision.

Furthermore, even the judiciary has liberally interpreted the provisions of the Act,
thereby making the public authorities more accountable. For instance, in Shyam
Yadav vs. Department of Personnel. Training, the Central Information
Commission held that property statements filed by civil servants are not
confidential and information can be disclosed after taking the views of concerned
officials as per the provisions of the RTI Act.

CHALLENGES
The general awareness amongst people about the RTI Act and how it is to be used
for their benefits is still low.

The cases of misuse of RTI Act are also increasing.

The PIOs are not adequately trained about the different provisions and rules of the
Act regarding procedures to be followed in disseminating information.

The PIOs has the same old colonial mind set and they try to guard every
information and working in secrecy under the Official Secrets Act. These
bureaucrats deny information to the citizen to save themselves from criticism and
feel uncomfortable with the notion of transparency.
Attacks on RTI activists have also been a major deterrent in the RTI movement.

GUIDELINES FOR USE OF RTI ONLINE PORTAL

1. This Web Portal can be used by Indian citizens to file RTI application
online and also to make payment for RTI application online. First appeal
can also be filed online.

2. An applicant who desires to obtain any information under the RTI Act can
make a request through this Web Portal to the Ministries/Departments of
Government of India.

3. On clicking at "Submit Request", the applicant has to fill the required details
on the page will appear.

4. The text of the application may be written at the prescribed column.

5. At present, the text of an application that can be uploaded at the prescribed

column is confined to 3000 characters only.

6. In case an application contains more than 3000 characters, it can be

uploaded as an attachment, by using column
"Supporting document".

7. After filling the first page, the applicant has to click on "Make Payment" to
make payment of the prescribed fee.

8. The applicant can pay the prescribed fee through the following modes:
(a) Internet banking through SBI and its associated banks;
(b) Using credit/debit card of Master/Visa;
(c) Using RuPay Card.
9. Fee for making an application is as prescribed in the RTI Rules, 2012.

10.After making payment, an application can be submitted.

11.No RTI fee is required to be paid by any citizen who is below poverty line
as per RTI Rules, 2012. However, the applicant must attach a copy of the
certificate issued by the appropriate government in this regard, alongwith
the application.

12.On submission of an application, a unique registration number would be

issued, which may be referred by the applicant for any references in future.

13.The application filed through this Web Portal would reach electronically to
the "Nodal Officer" of concerned Ministry/Department, who would transmit
the RTI application electronically to the concerned CPIO.

14.In case additional fee is required representing the cost for providing
information, the CPIO would intimate the applicant through this portal. This
intimation can be seen by the applicant through Status Report or through
his/her e-mail alert.

15.For making an appeal to the first Appellate Authority, the applicant has to
click at "Submit First Appeal" and fill up the page that will appear.

16.The registration number of original application has to be used for reference.

17.As per RTI Act, no fee has to be paid for first appeal.

18.The applicant/the appellant should submit his/her mobile number to receive

SMS alert.

19.Status of the RTI application/first appeal filed online can be seen by the
applicant/appellant by clicking at "View Status".

20.All the requirements for filing an RTI application and first appeal as well as
other provisions regarding time limit, exemptions etc., as provided in the
RTI Act, 2005 will continue to apply.