PROPOSED POINTS FOR DISCUSSION ON

IMPORTANT RTI PROVISION(S)

TIc lasic oljcci of iIc FTI Aci is io cnowcr iIc ciiizcns, ronoic
iransarcncy and accounialiliiy in iIc worling of iIc Covcrnncni and
nalc our dcnocracy worl for iIc colc in rcal scnsc. TIc FigIi io
Infornaiion Aci, 2005 cnowcrs ciiizcns io gci infornaiion fron any 'ullic
auiIoriiy'. TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr (PIO} of a ullic auiIoriiy lays a
ivoial rolc in naling iIc rigIi of a ciiizcn io infornaiion a rcaliiy. TIc Aci
casis sccific duiics on Iin and nalcs Iin liallc for cnaliy in casc of
dcfauli. Ii is, iIcrcforc, csscniial for a PIO io siudy iIc Aci carcfully and
undcrsiand iis rovisions corrccily. Following asccis sIould ariicularly lc
lci in vicw wIilc dcaling wiiI iIc alicaiions undcr iIc Aci.


1) Wbat Is InIormatIon?

Infornaiion is any naicrial in any forn. Ii includcs rccords, docuncnis,
ncnos, cnails, oinions, adviccs, rcss rclcascs, circulars, ordcrs,
loglools, coniracis, rcoris, acrs, sanlcs, nodcls, daia naicrial Icld
in any clccironic forn. Ii also includcs infornaiion rclaiing io any rivaic
lody, wIicI can lc acccsscd ly iIc ullic auiIoriiy undcr any law for
iIc iinc lcing in forcc.


2) RIgbt to InIormatIon under tbe Act

i. A ciiizcn Ias a rigIi io sccl sucI infornaiion fron a ullic
auiIoriiy wIicI is Icld ly iIc ullic auiIoriiy or wIicI is Icld
undcr iis conirol.

ii. TIis rigIi includcs inscciion of worl, docuncnis and rccords;
ialing noics, ciracis or ccriificd coics of docuncnis or rccords;
and ialing ccriificd sanlcs of naicrial Icld ly iIc ullic
auiIoriiy or Icld undcr iIc conirol of iIc ullic auiIoriiy.

iii. TIc Aci givcs iIc ciiizcns a rigIi io infornaiion ai ar wiiI iIc
Mcnlcrs of Parliancni and iIc Mcnlcrs of Siaic Lcgislaiurcs.
According io iIc Aci, iIc infornaiion, wIicI cannoi lc dcnicd io
iIc Parliancni or a Siaic Lcgislaiurc, sIall noi lc dcnicd io any
crson.

iv. A ciiizcn Ias a rigIi io oliain an infornaiion in iIc forn of
dislciics, floics, iacs, vidco cassciics or in any oiIcr clccironic
nodc or iIrougI rini-ouis rovidcd sucI infornaiion is alrcady
siorcd in a conuicr or in any oiIcr dcvicc fron wIicI iIc
infornaiion nay lc iransfcrrcd io dislciics cic.

v. TIc Aci givcs iIc rigIi io infornaiion only io iIc ciiizcns of India.
Ii docs noi nalc rovision for giving infornaiion io Cororaiions,
Associaiions, Conanics cic., wIicI uc cgu cnttcs/csons, Iut
not ctzcns.

vi. Howcvcr, if un ucuton s nudc I un cnocc o occ-Icuc
o un Coouton, Assocuton, Conun, NGO ctc. ndcutng Is
nunc und sucI cnocc/occ Icuc s u ctzcn o Indu;
nonuton nu Ic sucd to In/Ic. In sucI cascs, ii would lc
rcsuncd iIai a ciiizcn Ias sougIi infornaiion ai iIc addrcss of
iIc Cororaiion cic.

vii. TIc infornaiion io iIc alicani sIould ordinarily lc rovidcd in
iIc forn in wIicI ii is sougIi. Howcvcr, if iIc suly of
infornaiion sougIi in a ariicular forn would disrooriionaicly
divcri iIc rcsourccs of iIc ullic auiIoriiy or nay causc Iarn io
iIc safciy or rcscrvaiion of iIc rccords, suly of infornaiion in
iIai forn nay lc dcnicd.

viii. Only sucI infornaiion is rcquircd io lc sulicd undcr iIc Aci,
wIicI alrcady cisis and is Icld ly iIc ullic auiIoriiy or Icld
undcr iIc conirol of iIc ullic auiIoriiy.

i. TIc PIO is noi suoscd io crcaic infornaiion; or io inicrrci
infornaiion; or io solvc iIc rollcns raiscd ly iIc alicanis; or
io furnisI rclics io IyoiIciical qucsiions.


3) InIormatIon Exempted From DIscIosure

i. TIc rigIi io sccl infornaiion fron a ullic auiIoriiy is noi
alsoluic. Scciion 8 and 9 of iIc Aci cnuncraic iIc caicgorics of
infornaiion, wIicI arc ccnicd fron disclosurc.

ii. ScIcdulc II of iIc Aci coniains iIc nancs of iIc Iniclligcncc and
Sccuriiy Organisaiions wIicI arc ccnicd fron iIc urvicw of iIc
Aci. TIc ccniion of iIc organisaiions, Iowcvcr, docs noi covcr
suly of infornaiion rclaiing io allcgaiions of corruiion and
Iunan rigIis violaiions.

iii. SuI-sccton (l) o sccton S und sccton 9 of iIc Aci cnuncraic iIc
iycs of infornaiion, wIicI is ccnicd fron disclosurc.

iv. Sul-scciion (2} of scciion 8, Iowcvcr, rovidcs iIai infornaiion
ccnicd undcr sul-scciion (1} or ccnicd undcr iIc Official
Sccrcis Aci, 1923 can lc discloscd if ullic inicrcsi in disclosurc
ovcrwcigIs iIc Iarn io iIc roiccicd inicrcsi.

v. FuriIcr, Sul-scciion (3} of scciion 8 rovidcs iIai infornaiion
ccnicd fron disclosurc undcr sul-scciion (1}, ccci as rovidcd
in clauscs (a}, (c} and (i} iIcrcof, would ccasc io lc ccnicd aficr
20 ycars fron iIc daic of occurrcncc of iIc rclaicd cvcni cic.

vi. Ii nay lc noicd iIai scciion 8(3} of iIc Aci docs noi rcquirc iIc
ullic auiIoriiics io rciain rccords for indcfiniic criod. TIc
rccords sIould lc rciaincd as cr iIc rccord rcicniion scIcdulc
alicallc io iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy. Infornaiion gcncraicd
in a filc nay survivc in iIc forn of an OM or a lciicr or in any oiIcr
forn cvcn aficr dcsiruciion of iIc filc/rccord. TIc Aci rcquircs
furnisIing of infornaiion so availallc aficr iIc lasc of 20 ycars
cvcn if sucI infornaiion was ccni fron disclosurc undcr sul-
scciion (1} of Scciion 8. Ii ncans iIai iIc infornaiion, wIicI in
nornal coursc is ccni fron disclosurc undcr sul-scciion (1} of
Scciion 8 of iIc Aci, would ccasc io lc ccnicd if 20 ycars Iavc
lascd aficr occurrcncc of iIc incidcni io wIicI iIc infornaiion
rclaics. Howcvcr, iIc following iycs of infornaiion would coniinuc
io lc ccni and iIcrc would lc no olligaiion, cvcn aficr lasc of
20 ycars, io givc any ciiizcn.-

a. infornaiion disclosurc of wIicI would rcjudicially affcci iIc
sovcrcigniy and inicgriiy of India, iIc sccuriiy, siraicgic,
scicniific or ccononic inicrcsi of iIc Siaic, rclaiion wiiI forcign
siaic or lcad io inciicncni of an offcncc;

l. infornaiion iIc disclosurc of wIicI would causc a lrcacI of
rivilcgc of Parliancni or Siaic Lcgislaiurc; or

c. calinci acrs including rccords of dclilcraiions of iIc Council
of Minisicrs, Sccrciarics and oiIcr Officcrs suljcci io iIc
condiiions givcn in roviso io clausc (i} of sul-scciion( 1} of
Scciion 8 of iIc Aci.


4) RIgbt to InIormatIon vIs-a-vIs otber Acts

TIc FTI Aci Ias ovcr-riding cffcci vis-a-vis oiIcr laws inasnucI as iIc
rovisions of iIc FTI Aci would Iavc cffcci noiwiiIsianding anyiIing
inconsisicni iIcrcwiiI coniaincd in iIc Official Sccrcis Aci, 1923, and any
oiIcr law for iIc iinc lcing in forcc or in any insiruncni Iaving cffcci ly
viriuc of any law oiIcr iIan iIc FTI Aci.


S) RenderIng AssIstance to AppIIcants

i. TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr Ias a duiy io rcndcr rcasonallc
assisiancc io iIc crsons sccling infornaiion. As cr rovisions
of iIc Aci, a crson, wIo dcsircs io oliain any infornaiion, is
rcquircd io nalc a rcqucsi in wriiing or iIrougI clccironic
ncans in EnglisI or Hindi or in iIc official languagc of iIc arca
in wIicI iIc alicaiion is nadc. If a crson sccling infornaiion
is noi allc io nalc sucI rcqucsi in wriiing, iIc Pullic
Infornaiion Officcr sIould rcndcr rcasonallc assisiancc io Iin
io rcducc iIc sanc in wriiing.

ii. WIcrc acccss io a rccord is rcquircd io lc rovidcd io a scnsorily
disallcd crson, iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould assisi
sucI crson io cnallc Iin io acccss iIc infornaiion. Hc sIould
also rovidc sucI assisiancc io iIc crson as nay lc aroriaic
for iIc inscciion of rccords wIcrc sucI inscciion is involvcd.


6) AssIstance AvaIIabIe to PIO

TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr nay sccl iIc assisiancc of any oiIcr officcr
as Ic or sIc considcrs ncccssary for iIc rocr discIargc of Iis or Icr
duiics. TIc officcr, wIosc assisiancc is so sougIi ly iIc PIO, would rcndcr
all assisiancc io Iin. SucI an officcr sIall lc dccncd io lc a Pullic
Infornaiion Officcr and would lc liallc for coniravcniion of any rovisions
of iIc Aci iIc sanc way as any oiIcr Pullic Infornaiion Officcr. Ii would lc
advisallc for iIc PIO io inforn iIc officcr wIosc assisiancc is sougIi, aloui
iIc alovc rovision, ai iIc iinc of sccling Iis assisiancc.


?) Suo-motu DIscIosure

TIc Aci nalcs ii olligaiory for cvcry ullic auiIoriiy io nalc suo-notu
disclosurc in rcscci of iIc ariiculars of iis organizaiion, funciions, duiics
and oiIcr naiicrs, as rovidcd in scciion 4 of iIc Aci. TIc infornaiion so
ullisIcd, according io sul-scciion (4} of scciion 4, sIould lc casily
acccssillc wiiI iIc PIO in clccironic fornai. TIc PIO sIould, iIcrcforc,
nalc conccrncd cfforis io cnsurc iIai iIc rcquircncnis of iIc Scciion 4 arc
nci and nainun infornaiion in rcscci of iIc ullic auiIoriiy is nadc
availallc on iIc inicrnci. Ii would Icl Iin in iwo ways. Firsi, iIc nunlcr
of alicaiions undcr iIc Aci would lc rcduccd and sccondly, ii would
faciliiaic Iis worl of roviding infornaiion inasnucI as nosi of iIc
infornaiion would lc availallc io Iin ai onc lacc.


S) Fee Ior SeekIng InIormatIon

a. An alicani, along wiiI Iis alicaiion, is rcquircd io scnd a
dcnand drafi or a lanlcr's cIcquc or an Indian Posial Ordcr of
FS.10/- (Fuccs icn}, ayallc io iIc Accounis Officcr of iIc ullic
auiIoriiy as fcc rcscrilcd for sccling infornaiion. Hc can also
nalc ayncni of fcc ly way of casI io iIc Accounis Officcr of iIc
ullic auiIoriiy or io iIc Ccniral Assisiani Pullic Infornaiion
Officcr againsi rocr rcccii.

l. Addiiional fcc Ias lccn rcscrilcd ly iIc FigIi io Infornaiion
Fcgulaiion of Fcc and Cosi} Fulcs, 2005 for suly of infornaiion
as givcn lclow.-

i. ruccs iwo (Fs. 2/-} for cacI agc ( in A-4 or A-3 sizc acr}
crcaicd or coicd;
ii. aciual cIargc or cosi ricc of a coy in largcr sizc acr;
iii. aciual cosi or ricc for sanlcs or nodcls;
iv. for inscciion of rccords, no fcc for iIc firsi Iour; and a fcc of
ruccs fivc (Fs. 5/-} for cacI sulscqucni Iour (or fraciion
iIcrcof};
v. for infornaiion rovidcd in dislciic or floy ruccs fifiy
(Fs.50/-} cr dislciic or floy; and
vi. for infornaiion rovidcd in rinicd forn ai iIc ricc ficd for
sucI ullicaiion or ruccs iwo cr agc of Ioiocoy for
ciracis fron iIc ullicaiion.

a. If iIc alicani lclongs io lclow ovcriy linc (DPL} caicgory, Ic is
noi rcquircd io ay any fcc. Howcvcr, Ic sIould sulnii a roof in
suori of Iis clain io lclong io iIc lclow ovcriy linc. TIc
alicaiion noi acconanicd ly iIc rcscrilcd fcc of FS.10/- or
roof of iIc alicani's lclonging io lclow ovcriy linc, as iIc casc
nay lc, sIall noi lc a valid alicaiion undcr iIc Aci and,
iIcrcforc, docs noi cniiilc iIc alicani io gci infornaiion.


9) Contents and Format oI AppIIcatIon

An alicani naling rcqucsi for infornaiion is noi rcquircd io givc any
rcason for rcqucsiing iIc infornaiion or any oiIcr crsonal dciails ccci
iIosc iIai nay lc ncccssary for coniaciing Iin. Also, iIc Aci or iIc Fulcs
do noi rcscrilc any fornai of alicaiion for sccling infornaiion.
TIcrcforc, iIc alicani sIould noi lc aslcd io givc jusiificaiion for sccling
infornaiion or io givc dciails of Iis jol cic. or io sulnii alicaiion in any
ariicular forn.


10) InvaIId AppIIcatIons

Soon aficr rccciving iIc alicaiion, iIc PIO sIould cIccl wIciIcr iIc
alicani Ias nadc iIc ayncni of alicaiion fcc of Fs. 10 or wIciIcr iIc
alicani is a crson lclonging io a Dclow Povcriy Linc (DPL} fanily. If
alicaiion is noi acconanicd ly iIc rcscrilcd fcc or iIc DPL Ccriificaic,
ii cannoi lc ircaicd as a valid alicaiion undcr iIc FTI Aci and nay lc
ignorcd.


11) TransIer oI AppIIcatIon

a. If iIc alicaiion is acconanicd ly iIc rcscrilcd fcc or iIc Dclow
Povcriy Linc Ccriificaic, iIc PIO sIould cIccl wIciIcr iIc suljcci
naiicr of iIc alicaiion or a ari iIcrcof conccrns sonc oiIcr
ullic auiIoriiy. If iIc suljcci naiicr of iIc alicaiion conccrns
any oiIcr ullic auiIoriiy, ii sIould lc iransfcrrcd io iIai ullic
auiIoriiy. If only a ari of iIc alicaiion conccrns iIc oiIcr ullic
auiIoriiy, a coy of iIc alicaiion nay lc scni io iIai ullic
auiIoriiy, clcarly sccifying iIc ari, wIicI rclaics io iIai ullic
auiIoriiy. WIilc iransfcrring iIc alicaiion or scnding a coy
iIcrcof, iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy sIould lc inforncd iIai
iIc alicaiion fcc Ias lccn rcccivcd. TIc alicani sIould also lc
inforncd aloui iIc iransfcr of Iis alicaiion and iIc ariiculars
of iIc ullic auiIoriiy io wIon iIc alicaiion or a coy iIcrcof
Ias lccn scni.

l. Transfcr of alicaiion or ari iIcrcof, as iIc casc nay lc, sIould
lc nadc as soon as ossillc and in any casc wiiIin fivc days fron
iIc daic of rcccii of iIc alicaiion. If a PIO iransfcrs an
alicaiion aficr fivc days fron iIc rcccii of iIc alicaiion, Ic
would lc rcsonsillc for dclay in disosing of iIc alicaiion io iIc
cicni of nunlcr of days wIicI Ic ialcs in iransfcrring iIc
alicaiion lcyond 5 days.

c. TIc PIO of iIc ullic auiIoriiy io wIon iIc alicaiion is
iransfcrrcd, sIould noi rcfusc accciancc of iransfcr of iIc
alicaiion on iIc ground iIai ii was noi iransfcrrcd io Iin wiiIin
5 days.

d. A ullic auiIoriiy nay dcsignaic as nany PIOs for ii, as ii nay
dccn ncccssary. Ii is ossillc iIai in a ullic auiIoriiy wiiI norc
iIan onc PIO, an alicaiion is rcccivcd ly iIc PIO oiIcr iIan iIc
conccrncd PIO. In sucI a casc, iIc PIO rccciving iIc alicaiion
sIould iransfcr ii io iIc conccrncd PIO inncdiaicly, rcfcrally iIc
sanc day. Tinc criod of fivc days for iransfcr of iIc alicaiion
alics only wIcn iIc alicaiion is iransfcrrcd fron onc ullic
auiIoriiy io anoiIcr ullic auiIoriiy and noi for iransfcr fron onc
PIO io anoiIcr in iIc sanc ullic auiIoriiy.


12) SuppIy oI InIormatIon

a. TIc answcring PIO sIould cIccl wIciIcr iIc infornaiion sougIi
or a ari iIcrcof is ccni fron disclosurc undcr scciion 8 or
Scciion 9 of iIc Aci. Fcqucsi in rcscci of iIc ari of iIc
alicaiion, wIicI is so ccni, nay lc rcjccicd and rcsi of iIc
infornaiion sIould lc rovidcd inncdiaicly or aficr rcccii of
addiiional fccs, as iIc casc nay lc.

l. WIcrc a rcqucsi for infornaiion is rcjccicd, iIc Pullic Infornaiion
Officcr sIould connunicaic io iIc crson naling iIc rcqucsi.-
(i} iIc rcasons for sucI rcjcciion;
(ii} iIc criod wiiIin wIicI an acal againsi sucI rcjcciion nay lc
rcfcrrcd; and
(iii}iIc ariiculars of iIc auiIoriiy io wIon an acal can lc nadc.

c. If addiiional fcc is rcquircd io lc aid ly iIc alicani as rovidcd
in iIc FigIi io Infornaiion (Fcgulaiion of Fcc and Cosi} Fulcs,
2005, iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould inforn iIc
alicani.-

(i} iIc dciails of furiIcr fccs rcquircd io lc aid;
(ii} iIc calculaiions nadc io arrivc ai iIc anouni of fccs aslcd for;
(iii}iIc faci iIai iIc alicani Ias a rigIi io nalc acal aloui iIc
anouni of fccs so dcnandcd;
(iv} iIc ariiculars of iIc auiIoriiy io wIon sucI an acal can lc
nadc; and
(v} iIc iinc linii wiiIin wIicI iIc acal can lc nadc.



13) SuppIy oI Part InIormatIon by Severance

WIcrc a. rcqucsi is rcccivcd for acccss io infornaiion, wIicI is ccni fron
disclosurc lui a ari of, wIicI is noi ccnicd and sucI ari can lc
scvcrcd in sucI a way iIai iIc scvcrcd ari docs noi coniain ccni
infornaiion iIcn, acccss io iIai ari of iIc infornaiion/rccord nay lc
rovidcd io iIc alicani. WIcrc acccss is granicd io a ari of iIc rccord in
sucI a way, iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould inforn iIc
alicani iIai iIc infornaiion aslcd for is ccni fron disclosurc and iIai
only ari of iIc rccord is lcing rovidcd, aficr scvcrancc, wIicI is noi
ccni fron disclosurc. WIilc doing so, Ic sIould givc iIc rcasons for iIc
dccision, including any findings on any naicrial qucsiion of faci, rcfcrring io
iIc naicrial on wIicI iIosc findings wcrc lascd. TIc PIO sIould ialc iIc
aroval of aroriaic auiIoriiy lcforc suly of infornaiion in sucI a
casc and sIould inforn iIc nanc and dcsignaiion of iIc crson giving iIc
dccision io iIc alicani also.


14) TIme PerIod Ior SuppIy oI InIormatIon

a. Tbe PIO sbouId suppIy tbe InIormatIon wItbIn tbIrty days oI
tbe receIpt oI tbe request. WIcrc iIc infornaiion sougIi for
conccrns iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson, iIc sanc sIould lc
rovidcd wiiIin foriy-cigIi Iours of iIc rcccii of iIc rcqucsi.

l. Every pubIIc autborIty Is requIred to desIgnate an oIIIcer at
eacb sub-dIvIsIonaI IeveI or otber sub-dIstrIct IeveI as a
AssIstant PubIIc InIormatIon OIIIcer (APIO) to receIve tbe
appIIcatIons or appeaIs under tbe Act Ior IorwardIng tbe same
to tbe PubIIc InIormatIon OIIIcer or tbe IIrst AppeIIate
AutborIty or tbe InIormatIon CommIssIon. If rcqucsi for
infornaiion is rcccivcd iIrougI iIc APIO, iIc infornaiion nay lc
rovidcd wiiIin 35 days of rcccii of alicaiion ly iIc APIO in
nornal coursc and 48 Iours lus 5 days in casc iIc infornaiion
sougIi conccrns iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson.

c. In casc of an alicaiion iransfcrrcd fron onc ullic auiIoriiy io
anoiIcr ullic auiIoriiy, as rcfcrrcd io in ara 21, rcly sIould lc
rovidcd ly iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy wiiIin 30 days of iIc
rcccii of iIc alicaiion ly iIai ullic auiIoriiy in nornal coursc
and wiiIin 48 Iours in casc iIc infornaiion sougIi conccrns iIc
lifc or lilcriy of a crson.

d. TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr(s} of iIc iniclligcncc and sccuriiy
organisaiions sccificd in iIc Sccond ScIcdulc of iIc Aci nay
rcccivc alicaiions sccling infornaiion criaining io allcgaiions of
corruiion and Iunan rigIis violaiions. Infornaiion in rcscci of
allcgaiions of violaiion of Iunan rigIis, wIicI is rovidcd only
aficr iIc aroval of iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission, sIould
lc rovidcd wiiIin foriy-fivc days fron iIc daic of iIc rcccii of
rcqucsi. Tinc linii rcscrilcd for sulying infornaiion in rcgard
io allcgaiions of corruiion is iIc sanc as in oiIcr cascs.

c. WIcrc iIc alicani is aslcd io ay addiiional fcc, iIc criod
inicrvcning lciwccn iIc disaicI of iIc iniinaiion aloui ayncni
of fcc and iIc ayncni of fcc ly iIc alicani sIall lc ccludcd for
iIc urosc of calculaiing iIc criod of rcly. TIc following iallc
sIows iIc nainun iinc wIicI nay lc ialcn io disosc off iIc
alicaiions in' diffcrcni siiuaiions.-

f. If iIc PIO fails io givc dccision on iIc rcqucsi for infornaiion
wiiIin iIc rcscrilcd criod, iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIall lc
dccncd io Iavc rcfuscd iIc rcqucsi. Ii is criincni io noic iIai if a
ullic auiIoriiy fails io conly wiiI iIc sccificd iinc linii, iIc
infornaiion io iIc conccrncd alicani would Iavc io lc rovidcd
frcc of cIargc.


1S) TbIrd Party InIormatIon

a. TIird ariy in rclaiion io iIc Aci ncans a crson oiIcr iIan iIc
ciiizcn wIo Ias nadc rcqucsi for infornaiion. Any ullic auiIoriiy
oiIcr iIan iIc ullic auiIoriiy io wIon iIc rcqucsi Ias lccn nadc
sIall also lc includcd in iIc dcfiniiion of iIird ariy.

l. Ii nay lc noicd iIai infornaiion including conncrcial confidcncc,
iradc sccrcis or inicllcciual rocriy, iIc disclosurc of wIicI would
Iarn iIc conciiiivc osiiion of a iIird ariy, is ccni fron
disclosurc. Scciion 8(1}(d} rcquircs iIai sucI infornaiion sIould noi
lc discloscd unlcss iIc concicni auiIoriiy is saiisficd iIai largcr
ullic inicrcsi warranis iIc disclosurc of sucI infornaiion.

c. If an alicani sccls any infornaiion wIicI rclaics io or Ias lccn
sulicd ly a iIird ariy and iIai iIird ariy Ias ircaicd iIai
infornaiion as confidcniial, iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould
considcr wIciIcr iIc infornaiion sIould lc discloscd or noi. TIc
guiding rincilc in sucI cascs sIould lc iIai ccci in iIc casc of
iradc or conncrcial sccrcis roiccicd ly law, disclosurc nay lc
allowcd if iIc ullic inicrcsi in disclosurc ouiwcigIs in inoriancc
any ossillc Iarn or injury io iIc inicrcsis of sucI iIird ariy.
Howcvcr, roccdurc as givcn lclow sIould lc followcd lcforc
disclosing sucI infornaiion. Ii nay lc noicd iIai iIis roccdurc nccd
lc followcd only wIcn iIc iIird ari Ias ircaicd iIc infornaiion as
confidcniial.

d. If iIc PIO inicnds io disclosc iIc infornaiion, Ic sIould wiiIin fivc
days fron iIc rcccii of iIc alicaiion, givc a wriiicn noiicc io iIc
iIird ariy iIai iIc infornaiion Ias lccn sougIi ly iIc alicani
undcr iIc FTI Aci and iIai Ic inicnds io disclosc iIc infornaiion. Hc
sIould rcqucsi iIc iIird ariy io nalc a sulnission in wriiing or
orally, rcgarding wIciIcr iIc infornaiion sIould lc discloscd. TIc
iIird ariy sIould lc givcn a iinc of icn days, fron iIc daic of rcccii
of iIc noiicc ly Iin, io nalc rcrcscniaiion againsi iIc rooscd
disclosurc, if any.

c. TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould nalc a dccision rcgarding
disclosurc of iIc infornaiion lccing in vicw iIc sulnission of iIc
iIird ariy. SucI a dccision sIould lc ialcn wiiIin foriy days fron
iIc rcccii of iIc rcqucsi for infornaiion. Aficr ialing iIc dccision,
iIc PIO sIould givc a noiicc of Iis dccision io iIc iIird ariy in
wriiing. TIc noiicc givcn io iIc iIird ariy sIould includc a siaicncni
iIai iIc iIird ariy is cniiilcd io rcfcr an acal undcr scciion 19
againsi iIc dccision.

f. TIc iIird ariy can rcfcr an acal io iIc Firsi Acllaic AuiIoriiy
againsi iIc dccision nadc ly iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr
wiiIin iIiriy days fron iIc daic of iIc rcccii of noiicc. If noi saiisficd
wiiI iIc dccision of iIc Firsi Acllaic AuiIoriiy, iIc iIird ariy can
rcfcr iIc sccond acal io iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission.

g. If an acal Ias lccn filcd ly iIc iIird ariy againsi iIc dccision of
iIc PIO io disclosc iIc iIird ariy infornaiion, iIc infornaiion sIould
noi lc discloscd iill iIc acal is dccidcd.

16) AppeaIs and CompIaInts

a. If an alicani is noi sulicd infornaiion wiiIin iIc rcscrilcd iinc
linii, or is noi saiisficd wiiI iIc infornaiion furnisIcd io Iin, Ic nay
rcfcr an acal io iIc firsi acllaic auiIoriiy wIo is an officcr scnior
in ranl io iIc PIO. SucI an acal can lc nadc wiiIin a criod of 30
days fron iIc daic on wIicI iinc linii for suly of infornaiion
circs or iIc dccision of iIc PIO is rcccivcd. TIc acllaic auiIoriiy
of iIc ullic auiIoriiy is cccicd io disosc of iIc acal wiiIin a
criod of iIiriy days or in ccciional cascs wiiIin 45 days of iIc
rcccii of iIc acal. If iIc firsi acllaic auiIoriiy fails io ass an
ordcr on iIc acal wiiIin iIc rcscrilcd criod of if iIc acllaic is
noi saiisficd wiiI iIc ordcr of iIc firsi acllaic auiIoriiy, Ic nay
rcfcr a sccond acal wiiI iIc Ccniral infornaiion Connission
wiiIin ninciy days fron iIc daic on wIicI iIc dccision sIould Iavc
lccn nadc ly iIc firsi acllaic auiIoriiy or was aciually rcccivcd ly
iIc acllani.

l. If any crson is unallc io sulnii a rcqucsi io a Pullic Infornaiion
Officcr ciiIcr ly rcason iIai sucI an officcr Ias noi lccn aoinicd ly
iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy; or iIc Assisiani Ccniral Pullic
Infornaiion Officcr Ias rcfuscd io accci Iis or Icr alicaiion or
acal for forwarding iIc sanc io iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion
Officcr or iIc acllaic auiIoriiy, as iIc casc nay lc; or Ic Ias lccn
rcfuscd acccss io any infornaiion rcqucsicd ly Iin undcr iIc FTI
Aci; or Ic Ias noi lccn givcn a rcsonsc io a rcqucsi for infornaiion
wiiIin iIc iinc linii sccificd in iIc Aci; or Ic Ias lccn rcquircd io
ay an anouni of fcc wIicI Ic considcrs unrcasonallc; or Ic lclicvcs
iIai Ic Ias lccn givcn inconlcic, nislcading or falsc infornaiion, Ic
can nalc a conlaini io iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission.





1?) ImposItIon oI PenaIty

As oinicd oui alovc, an alicani undcr iIc Aci Ias a rigIi io acal io iIc
Ccniral Infornaiion Connission and also io nalc conlaini io iIc
Connission. WIcrc iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission ai iIc iinc of
dcciding any conlaini or acal is of iIc oinion iIai iIc Pullic
Infornaiion Officcr Ias wiiIoui any rcasonallc causc, rcfuscd io rcccivc an
alicaiion for infornaiion or Ias noi furnisIcd infornaiion wiiIin iIc iinc
is sccificd or nalafidcly dcnicd iIc rcqucsi for infornaiion or lnowingly
givcn incorrcci, inconlcic or nislcading infornaiion or dcsiroycd
infornaiion wIicI was iIc suljcci of iIc rcqucsi or olsirucicd in any
nanncr in furnisIing iIc infornaiion, ii sIall inosc a cnaliy of iwo
Iundrcd and fifiy ruccs cacI day iill alicaiion is rcccivcd or infornaiion
is furnisIcd suljcci io iIc condiiion iIai iIc ioial anouni of sucI cnaliy
sIall noi ccccd iwcniy-fivc iIousand ruccs. TIc Ccniral Pullic
Infornaiion Officcr sIall, Iowcvcr, lc givcn a rcasonallc ooriuniiy of
lcing Icard lcforc any cnaliy is inoscd on Iin. TIc lurdcn of roving
iIai Ic acicd rcasonally and diligcnily and in casc of dcnial of a rcqucsi
iIai sucI dcnial was jusiificd sIall lc on iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion
Officcr.


1S) CIC may recommend dIscIpIInary ActIon agaInst PIO

WIcrc iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission ai iIc iinc of dcciding any
conlaini or acal is of iIc oinion iIai iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr Ias
wiiIoui any rcasonallc causc and crsisicnily, failcd io rcccivc an
alicaiion for infornaiion or Ias noi furnisIcd infornaiion wiiIin iIc iinc
sccificd or nalafidcly dcnicd iIc rcqucsi for infornaiion or lnowingly givcn
incorrcci, inconlcic or nislcading infornaiion or dcsiroycd infornaiion
wIicI was iIc suljcci of iIc rcqucsi or olsirucicd in any nanncr in
furnisIing iIc infornaiion, ii nay rcconncnd for discilinary aciion againsi
iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr.


19) ProtectIon Ior Work Done In Good FaItb

Scciion 21 of iIc Aci rovidcs iIai no suii, rosccuiion or oiIcr lcgal
rocccding sIall lic againsi any crson for anyiIing wIicI is in good faiiI
donc or inicndcd io lc donc undcr iIc Aci or any rulc nadc iIcrc undcr. A
PIO sIould, Iowcvcr, noic iIai ii would lc Iis rcsonsililiiy io rovc iIai
Iis aciion was in good faiiI.


20) AnnuaI Report oI tbe CIC

TIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission rcarcs a rcori on iIc
inlcncniaiion of iIc rovisions of iIc FTI Aci cvcry ycar, wIicI is laid
lcforc cacI Housc of iIc Parliancni. TIis rcori, ntc-uu, Ias io includc
infornaiion aloui iIc nunlcr of rcqucsis nadc io cacI ullic auiIoriiy,
iIc nunlcr of dccisions wIcrc iIc alicanis wcrc noi cniiilcd io acccss io
docuncnis rcqucsicd for, iIc rovisions of iIc Aci undcr wIicI iIcsc
dccisions wcrc nadc and iIc nunlcr of iincs sucI rovisions wcrc involcd,
iIc anouni of cIargcs collccicd ly cacI ullic auiIoriiy undcr iIc Aci.
EacI Minisiry/Dcarincni is rcquircd io collcci sucI infornaiion fron all
iIc ullic auiIoriiics undcr iis jurisdiciion and scnd iIc sanc io iIc
Connission. TIc CPIOs sIould nainiain iIc rcquisiic infornaiion in iIis
rcgard so iIai ii nay lc sulicd io iIcir adninisiraiivc
Minisiry/Dcarincni soon aficr iIc cnd of iIc ycar, wIicI in iurn nay
suly io iIc Connission.

AT A GLANCE ACTION OF PIO


Sr. SItuatIon

TIme IImIt Ior dIsposIng oII
appIIcatIons
1. Suly of infornaiion in nornal
coursc
30 days

2. Suly of infornaiion if ii conccrns
iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson

48 Iours
3. Suly of infornaiion if iIc
alicaiion is rcccivcd iIrougI APIO.

05 days sIall lc addcd io iIc
iinc criod indicaicd ai
Sr. No.1 and 2.
4. Suly of infornaiion if alicaiion/
rcqucsi is rcccivcd aficr iransfcr fron
anoiIcr ullic auiIoriiy.
(a} In nornal coursc

(l} In casc iIc infornaiion conccrns
iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson
(a} WiiIin 30 days of iIc
rcccii of iIc alicaiion ly
iIc conccrncd ullic
auiIoriiy.

(l} WiiIin 48 Iours of rcccii
of iIc alicaiion ly iIc
conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy.

5. Suly of infornaiion ly organizaiions
sccificd in iIc Sccond ScIcdulc.

(a} If infornaiion rclaics io allcgaiions
of violaiion of Iunan rigIis.

(l} In casc infornaiion rclaics io
allcgaiions of corruiion.



(a} 45 days fron iIc rcccii
of alicaiion.

(l} WiiIin 30 days of iIc
rcccii of alicaiion.

6. Suly of infornaiion if ii rclaics io
iIird ariy and iIc iIird ariy Ias
ircaicd ii as confidcniial.
SIould lc rovidcd aficr
following iIc roccdurc givcn
in ara 15 of iIcsc guidclincs.

7. Suly of infornaiion wIcrc iIc
alicani is aslcd io ay addiiional
fcc.
TIc criod inicrvcning
lciwccn inforning iIc
alicani aloui addiiional fcc
and iIc ayncni of fcc ly iIc
alicani sIall lc ccludcd for
calculaiing iIc criod of rcly.