Right to Information Act-2005

The Real Swaraj will come not by the acquisition

of authority by a few but by the acquisition of
capacity by all to resist authority when abused.
Mahatma Gandhi

 Governmentfunctioningneededchangetokeeppace
with changing times and fulfill aspirations of people,
empowering them to drive government machinery in
theirbestinterest.
red tapism in our country - officials exploiting
ignoranceofcitizensoftentakingshieldofprovisions
of various acts,regulationssuchasofficialsecret act,
IndianEvidenceActetc.
Information is power and if this is denied to people,
realswarajcannotcome.

 In 12th October 2005, India enacted this act with

followingobjectives:
Make government machinery Accountable
Contain Corruption
Promote Transparency
- give a simple tool to Indian citizens to obtain
informationfromgovernmentmachineryinatime
boundmanner.

 What does information mean?

- 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
informationrelatingtoanyprivatebodywhich
canbeaccessedbyapublicauthorityunderany
otherlawforthetimebeinginforce.

What does Right toInformation

mean?
Itincludesrightto-
inspectworks,documents,records.
take notes, extracts or certified copies of
documentsorrecords.
takecertifiedsamplesofmaterial.
obtain information in form of printouts,
diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in
anyotherelectronicmodeorthroughprintouts.

 What are obligations of public authority?

publishwithin120daysofenactment: particularsofitsorganization,functionsand
duties;
powers&dutiesofitsofficers&employees;
procedure followed in its decision making
process, including channels of supervision
andaccountability;
normssetbyitfordischargeofitsfunctions;

 rules, regulations, instructions, manuals

and records used by its employees for
dischargingitsfunctions;
a statement of categories of documents
heldbyitorunderitscontrol;
particularsofanyarrangementthatexists
forconsultationwith,orrepresentationby
members of public, i/r/to formulation of
policyorimplementationthereof;

 What is not open to disclosure?

information, disclosure of which would prejudicially
affect sovereignty & integrity of India, security,
strategic, scientific/economic interests of State,
relationwithforeignStateorleadtoincitementofan
offence
informationwhichhasbeenexpresslyforbiddentobe
publishedbyanycourtoflaw/tribunalordisclosureof
whichmayconstitutecontemptofcourt;
information,disclosureofwhichwouldcauseabreach
ofprivilegeofParliament/StateLegislature;

 informationincludingcommercialconfidence,tradesecretsor
intellectual property, disclosure of which would harm
competitive position of a third party, unless competent
authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants
disclosureofsuchinformation;
information available to a person in his fiduciary
(Afiduciaryisalegalorethicalrelationshipoftrustbetween
two or more parties) relationship, unless competent authority
is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure
ofsuchinformation;
informationreceivedinconfidencefromforeignGovernment;
information, disclosure of which would endanger life or
physicalsafetyofanyperson.

 informationwhichwouldimpedetheprocess
of investigation or apprehension or
prosecutionofoffenders;
cabinet papers including records of
deliberations of Council of Ministers,
Secretariesandotherofficers;
information which relates to personal
information disclosure of which has no
relationshiptoanypublicactivityorinterest,
or which would cause unwarranted invasion
oftheprivacyoftheindividual;

 Is partial disclosure allowed?

Onlythatpartoftherecordwhichdoesnot
contain any information which is exempt
from disclosure and which can reasonably
be severed from any part that contains
exemptinformation,maybeprovided.

What does a "public authority"

mean?
- any authority/body/institution of self-government
establishedorconstituted:

byorundertheConstitution;
byanyotherlawmadebyParliament;
byanyotherlawmadebyStateLegislature;
bynotificationissuedorordermadebyappropriate
Govt & includes any-body owned, controlled or
substantiallyfinanced
non-Government
organization
substantially
financeddirectly/indirectlybyappropriateGovt.

Who is excluded?

Central Intelligence and Security agencies, Narcotics

Control Bureau, Aviation Research Centre, Special
Frontier Force, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, NSG, Assam
Rifles, Special Service Bureau, Special Branch (CID),
AndamanandNicobar,CrimeBranch-CID-CB,Dadraand
NagarHaveli&SpecialBranch,LakshadweepPolice.
Agencies specified by the State Governments through a
Notificationwillalsobeexcluded.
Exclusion,isnotabsoluteandtheseorganizationshavean
obligationtoprovideinformationpertainingtoallegations
of corruption & human rights violations. Information
relatingtoallegationsofhumanrightsvaluationscouldbe
givenbutonlywithapprovalofCentral/StateInformation
Commission,asthecasemaybe.

 Who are 'Third Parties'?

Athirdpartymeansapersonotherthanthecitizenmakinga
request for information and includes a public authority.
Third parties have a right to be heard in respect of
applicationsandappealsdealingwithinformationsubmitted
bythemtotheGovernmentinconfidence.[S.2(n)andS.11]
Who are Public Information Officers (PIOs)?
PIOs are officers designated by public authorities in all
administrative units/offices under it to provide information
tothecitizensrequestingforinformationundertheAct.Any
officer, whose assistance has been sought by PIO for the
properdischargeofhis/herduties,shallrenderallassistance
andforthepurposeofcontraventionsofprovisionsofthis
Act,suchotherofficershallbetreatedasaPIO.

What are the duties of a PIO?

PIOshalldealwithrequestsfrompersonsseekinginformationandwhere
the request cannot be made in writing, to render reasonable assistance to
thepersontoreducethesameinwriting.
If information requested for is held by or its subject matter is closely
connectedwiththefunctionofanotherpublicauthority,PIOshalltransfer,
within 5 days, the request to that other public authority and inform the
applicantimmediately.
PIO may seek assistance of any other officer for the proper discharge of
his/herduties.
PIO,onreceiptofarequest,shallasexpeditiouslyaspossible,andinany
case within 30 days of the receipt of the request, either provide the
information on payment of such fee as may be prescribed or reject the
requestforanyofthereasonsspecifiedinS.8orS.9.

 What are the penalty provisions?

EveryPIOwillbeliableforfineofRs.250perday,uptoa
maximumofRs.25,000/-,for-
notacceptinganapplication;
delayinginformationreleasewithoutreasonablecause;
malafidelydenyinginformation;
knowingly giving incomplete, incorrect, misleading
information;
destroyinginformationthathasbeenrequestedand
obstructingfurnishingofinformationinanymanner.
Information Commission (IC) at the Centre and the State
levels will have the power to impose this penalty. The
InformationCommissioncanalsorecommenddisciplinary
actionforviolationofthelawagainstanerringPIO.(S.20)

 Where information requested for concerns life or liberty

ofaperson,thesameshallbeprovidedwithin48hoursof
thereceiptofrequest.
If PIO fails to give decision on the request within the
period specified, he shall be deemed to have refused the
request.
Wherearequesthasbeenrejected,PIOshallcommunicate
to requester - (i) reasons for such rejection, (ii) period
within which an appeal against such rejection may be
preferred,&(iii)particularsoftheAppellateAuthority.
PIO shall provide information in the form in which it is
sought unless it would disproportionately divert the
resourcesofthePublicAuthorityorwouldbedetrimental
tothesafetyorpreservationoftherecordinquestion.

 Ifallowingpartialaccess,PIOshallgiveanotice
totheapplicant,informing:
thatonlypartofrecordrequested,afterseverance
ofrecordcontaininginformationwhichisexempt
fromdisclosure,isbeingprovided;
reasons for decision, including any findings on
any material question of fact, referring to the
materialonwhichthosefindingswerebased;
name&designationofpersongivingthedecision;
detailsoffeescalculatedbyhim/her&amountof
feewhichtheapplicantisrequiredtodeposit;and

 His/her rights w.r.t. review of decision regarding

non-disclosureofpartofinformation,theamount
offeechargedortheformofaccessprovided.
If information sought has been supplied by third
party or is treated as confidential by that third
party, PIO shall give a written notice to the third
partywithin5daysfromthereceiptoftherequest
andtakeitsrepresentationintoconsideration.
Third party must be given a chance to make a
representationbeforethePIOwithin10daysfrom
thedateofreceiptofsuchnotice.

Who are Assistant Public Information Officers ( APIO)

ActrequireseveryPublicAuthoritytodesignateanofficer,at
each sub-divisional level or other sub-district level, asAPIO
toreceiveapplicationsforinformationorappealsunderthis
Act for forwarding the same to PIO within 5days or the
concernedAppellateAuthority,asperthecase.

What is the Application Procedure for requesting

information?
Apply in writing or through electronic means in English or
Hindi or in the official language of the area, to the PIO,
specifyingtheparticularsoftheinformationsoughtfor.
Reasonforseekinginformationarenotrequiredtobegiven;
Payfeesasmaybeprescribed(ifnotbelongingtothebelow
povertylinecategory).

 What is the time limit to get the information?

30daysfromthedateofapplication
48hoursforinformationconcerningthelifeandlibertyof
aperson
5daysshallbeaddedtotheaboveresponsetime,incase
theapplicationforinformationisgiventoAssistantPublic
InformationOfficer.
Iftheinterestsofathirdpartyareinvolvedthentimelimit
willbe40days(maximumperiod+timegiventotheparty
tomakerepresentation).
Failuretoprovideinformationwithinthespecifiedperiod
isadeemedrefusal.

 10. What is the fee?

Applicationfeesprescribedwhichmustbereasonable.
If further fees are required, then same must be
intimated in writing with calculation details of how
figurewasarrivedat;
Applicant can seek review of the decision on fees
charged by the PIO by applying to the appropriate
AppellateAuthority;
Nofeeschargedfrompeoplelivingbelowpovertyline
Applicantmustbeprovidedinformationfreeofcostif
thePIOfailstocomplywiththeprescribedtimelimit.

 What could be the ground for rejection?

Ifitiscoveredbyexemptionfromdisclosure.
IfitinfringescopyrightofanypersonotherthantheState.
Who are the Appellate Authorities?
FirstAppeal: First appeal to the officer senior in rank to
PIOintheconcernedPublicAuthoritywithin30daysfrom
theexpiryofprescribedtimelimitorfromthereceiptof
decision.
SecondAppeal: Second appeal to CIC or SIC as the case
maybe,within90daysofthedateonwhichthedecision
wasgivenorshouldhavebeenmadebytheFirstAppellate
Authority.

 ThirdPartyappealagainstPIO'sdecisionmustbe
filed within 30 days before first Appellate
Authority;and,within90daysofthedecisionon
the first appeal, before appropriate Information
Commission which is the second appellate
authority.
BurdenofprovingthatdenialofInformationwas
justifiedlieswiththePIO.
First Appeal shall be disposed of within 30 days
from the date of its receipt. Period extendable by
15daysifnecessary.(S.19)

What are the powers and functions of Information Commissions?

CIC/SIChasadutytoreceivecomplaintsfromanyperson-

a)whohasnotbeenabletosubmitaninformationrequestbecauseaPIOhas
notbeenappointed;

B)whohasbeenrefusedinformationthatwasrequested;
C)who has received no response to his/her information request within the
specifiedtimelimits;

d)whothinksthefeeschargedareunreasonable;

E)whothinksinformationgivenisincompleteorfalseormisleading;and

f)anyothermatterrelatingtoobtaininginformationunderthislaw.

Powertoorderinquiryiftherearereasonablegrounds.CIC/SCICwill
havepowersofCivilCourtsuchas-

a)summoning and enforcing attendance of persons, compelling them

togiveoralorwrittenevidenceonoathandtoproducedocumentsor
things;
b)requiringthediscoveryandinspectionofdocuments;
c)receivingevidenceonaffidavit;
d)requisitioningpublicrecordsorcopiesfromanycourtoroffice
e)issuingsummonsforexaminationofwitnessesordocuments
f)anyothermatterwhichmaybeprescribed.

All records covered by this law (including those covered by

exemptions) must be given to CIC/SCIC during inquiry for
examination.

 Power to secure compliance of its decisions from the

PublicAuthorityincludes-
a)providingaccesstoinformationinaparticularform;
B)directing public authority to appoint a PIO/APIO
wherenoneexists;
c)publishinginformationorcategoriesofinformation;
d)makingnecessarychangestothepracticesrelatingto
management,maintenanceanddestructionofrecords;
e)enhancingtrainingprovisionforofficialsonRTI;

 f)seeking an annual report from the public authority on

compliancewiththislaw;

g)requireittocompensateforanylossorotherdetriment
sufferedbytheapplicant;

h)imposepenaltiesunderthislaw;or

i)rejecttheapplication.(S.18andS.19)

Status in BSNL
BSNL has designated Appellate, PIO &
APIOatcorporateoffice&allCircles.Apart
fromthisallSSAshavedesignatedAPIOs.
BSNLhasalsoputmandatoryinformationon
itswebsitewww.bsnl.co.inThelistofBSNL
PIOs/APIOsisalsoavailableonwebsite.