The document provides an overview of the Right to Information Act in India. Some key points: 1) The Act establishes the right of Indian citizens to access information held by public authorities, subject to exemptions for issues like national security or cabinet papers. 2) It defines "information" and "public authorities" and establishes processes for citizens to request information and appeal denials. 3) Public authorities must proactively disclose information and respond to requests within 30 days, with penalties for non-compliance. 4) The Act aims to balance transparency with other interests but establishes the paramountcy of democratic ideals of an informed citizenry.

1. 1
THE RIGHT TO
INFORMATION ACT
SHAILESH GANDHI
200
5

2. • The first FOI Law was enacted in Sweden on 2nd
December, 1766.
• It was primarily sponsored by a Finnish clergyman
Anders Chydenius.
• Anders is said to have been inspired by Confucian
philosophy (5 B.C.) that Chinese emperors were
expected ‘to admit their imperfections, even as they
were to uphold infallible and exemplar personal
conduct.’
2
Origins

3. WHEREAS the Co nstitutio n o f India has e stablishe d de m o cratic Re public;
AND WHEREAS de m o cracy re quire s an info rm e d citize nry and transpare ncy o f
info rm atio n which are vitalto its functio ning and also to co ntain co rruptio n and to
ho ld Go ve rnm e nts and the ir instrum e ntalitie s acco untable to the g o ve rne d;
AND WHEREAS revelation of information in actual practice is likely to
conflict with other public interests including efficient operations of the
Governments, optimum use of limited fiscal resources and the
preservation of confidentiality of sensitive information;
AND WHEREAS it is necessary to harmonise these conflicting interests
while preserving the paramountcy of the democratic ideal;
NOW, THEREFORE, it is e xpe die nt to pro vide fo rfurnishing ce rtain info rm atio n
to citize ns who de sire to have it
3
Preamble

4. • 2 (f) "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;
• Information must exist; what exists is information
4
Information

5. Public Authorities Section 2h
“public authority” means any authority or body or
institution of self government established or
constituted,—
(a) by or under the Constitution ;
(b) by any other law made by Parliament;
(c) by any other law made by State Legislature;
(d) by notification issued or order made by the
appropriate Government,
and includes any--
(i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed;
(ii) non-Government organisation substantially
financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the
appropriate Government;”
• CMs relief fund
5

6. Right to Information Sec 2(j)
• (j) “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
stored in a computer or in any other device; .
6

7. Most Important Section 3
Subject to the provisions
of this Act, all Citizens
shall have the Right to
Information.
7

8. • (1) Every public authority shall­
• (a) maintain all its records duly catalogued and indexed in a
manner and form which facilitates the right to information
under this Act and ensure that all records that are
appropriate to be computerised are, within a reasonable time
and subject to availability of resources, computerised and
connected through a network all over the country on
different systems so that access to such records is facilitated;
• It would also make the PIOs job easier.
8
Section 4 – Suo Moto Disclosures

9. Section 4 – Suo Moto Disclosures
Parliament’s promise to Citizens in Section 4 was that
1. Most operations would be computerized and
networked, records would be properly catalogued and
indexed.
2. Information would be provided suomotoby all public
authorities.
3. All relevant facts while formulating important policies
would be published.
4. Reasons for administrative and quasi-judicial
decisions will be conveyed to affected persons.
9

10. Section 5-Deemed PIO
• (4) The Central Public Information Officer or State Public
Information Officer, as the case may be, may seek the
assistance of any other officer as he or she considers it
necessary for the proper discharge of his or her duties.
• (5) Any officer, whose assistance has been sought under
sub-section (4), shall render all assistance to the Central
Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer,
as the case may be, seeking his or her assistance and for
the purposes of any contravention of the provisions of this
Act, such other officer shall be treated as a Central Public
Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the
case may be .
10

11. Sec 6- Request forobtaining information
• (1) A person, who desires to obtain any information under
this Act, shall make a request in writing or through electronic
means in English or Hindi or in the official language of the
area in which the application is being made,
• (2) An applicant making request for information shall not be
required to give any reason for requesting the information or
any other personal details except those that may be
necessary for contacting him.
11

12. Sec 6 (Cont’d)- Request forobtaining
information
• (3) Where an application is made to a public authority
requesting for an information,­-
(i) which is held by another public authority; or
(ii) the subject matter of which is more closely connected
with the functions of another public authority, the public
authority, to which such application is made, shall transfer the
application or such part of it as may be appropriate to that
other public authority and inform the applicant immediately
about such transfer:
• Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant to this
sub-section shall be made as soon as practicable but in no
case later than five days from the date of receipt of the
application.
12

13. 7. Disposal of request
• (1) on receipt of a request under section 6 (PIO) shall, as
expeditiously as possible, and in any case within thirty days
of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on
payment of such fee as may be prescribed or reject the
request for any of the reasons specified in sections 8 and 9:
Where the information concerns the life or liberty of a
person, the same shall be provided within forty-eight hours of
the receipt of the request.
• (2) If PIO fails to give decision on the request for
information within the period specified under sub-section
(1), the PIO shall be deemed to have refused the request.
13

14. 7. Disposal of request (Cont’d)
• (3) PIO must give details of further fees representing the cost
of providing the information as determined by him, together
with the calculations made to arrive at the amount in
accordance with fee prescribed under sub-section (1),
requesting him to deposit that fees, and the period
intervening between the despatch of the said intimation and
payment of fees shall be excluded for the purpose of
calculating the period of thirty days.
• (6)person making request for the information shall be
provided the information free of charge where a public
authority fails to comply with the time limits specified in Sub-
section (1) (30 days)
14

15. Section 7
• (8) Where a request has been rejected under subsection (1),
the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information
Officer, as the case may be shall communicate to the person
making the request,-
(i) the reasons for such rejection;
(ii) the period within which an appeal against such
rejection may be preferred;
(iii) the particulars of the appellate authority.
• (9) An information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in
which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the
resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the
safety or preservation of the record in question.
15

16. 30 day period
a)PIO receives RTI application- Day 1
After X days
b)PIO sends letter asking add. fees
30 day Clock Stops
c)Additional fees paid - 30 day clock starts
Information sent after Y days
d) X+ Y less than or = 30 days
16

17. Exemption fromdisclosure of
information –Section 8
(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;
17

18. Section 8.. Cont’d
• (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 govt.;
• (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;
18

19. Section 8.. Cont.
• (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;
19

20. Section 8..contd.
• ( 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
nor any of the exemptions permissible in accordance with sub-
section (1), a public authority may allow access to information,
if public interests in disclosure outweighs the harm to the
protected interests.
20

21. Section 8 (3)
• 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.
21

22. Section 11
11. (1) Where a Central Public Information Officer or the
State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, intends to
disclose any information or record, or part thereof on a request
made under this Act, which. relates to or has been supplied by a
third party and has been treated as confidential by that third party,
the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information
Officer, as the case may be, shall, within five days from the receipt
of the request, give a written notice to such third party of the
request and of the fact that the Central Public Information Officer or
State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, intends to
disclose the information or record, or part thereof, and invite the
third party to make a submission in writing or orally, regarding
whether the information should be disclosed, and such submission
of the third party shall be kept in view while taking a decision
about disclosure of information: 22

23. Section 18- Complaint
• 1. When RTI application not taken.
• 2. When excessive fee is sought.
• 3. If false information given
• 4. Noncompliance with Section 4
• 5. For threats
23

24. Section 19- appeal
• 1. First appeal to First appellate authority within
30 days.
• 2. For not getting information, incomplete
information or wrong information.
• 3. FAA should decide in 30/45 days
• 4. If result of First appeal not satisfactory,
second appeal to the Commission within 90
days.
• 5. Section 19 (5) Onus on PIO that denial of
information was justified.
24

25. Section 20
• If information denied without reasonable cause
Commission must penalise the PIO/Deemed
PIO at Rs. 250 per day of delay, after giving an
opportunity of explaining. Maximum penalty Rs.
25000. Commission can also recommend
disciplinary action against the officer.
25

26. Section 22
• The provisions of this Act shall have effect
notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith
contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and
any other law for the time being in force or in any
instrument having effect by virtue of any law
other than this Act.
26

27. Some necessary Actions by
Department heads
• Clearly identify the holders,-deemed PIOs,- of various records
• PIO should directly send his requisition for information to the
holder of the record.
• All ‘holders of record’ must understand the relevance of
Section 5 (4) and Section 5 (5), and their liabilities under
Section 20 (1).
• ‘Holder of record’ can either be the person actually holding
the record or the administrative head of the unit. If the Public
authority decides that the administrative head must be
referred to, such administrative head must be held
responsible for providing the information and be liable as the
deemed PIO.
27

28. Time plan
• RTI application received. 30 days clock starts.
• All RTI applications must reach the PIO within one day.
• Within one day of the receipt of the requisition for
information, please check the following ( in cases where the
life or liberty of a person is involved, information has to be
provided in 48 hours) :
• Has the application fee been paid? For Central Govt. bodies, a
Citizen can pay 10 rupees by cash, banker’s cheque, Indian
Postal order or in a designated Post office.
• Is the applicant’s contact information provided?
• Is the requisition for ‘information’ covered by Section 2 (f)
and (j) ?
• If the answer is ‘no’, please intimate the requisitioner that
what has been asked for is not ‘information’ as defined by
Section 2 (f) or 2(j) of the RTI act.
• If the answer is ‘Yes’, ie. What has been asked for, is
28

29. Next action
• If prima facie you see that information must be provided, see
if you have the information with you. If so, see if any charge is
leviable as per the rules. For Central Government the charges
are Rs. 2 per page for A4 size Xerox copy or collated and
typed. Intimate the requisitioner of the calculations and the
total amount payable, and ask him to pay the amount. If
there are items whose cost has not been specified in the
rules, -eg. Samples,-please make a reasonable estimate. On
payment of the amount release the information. If some
information is not being provided, indicate clearly which
information is not being provided and give the reasons how
any of the exemption clauses are applicable.
• If some the information has to be obtained from another
officer send him a note, and seek his assistance under Section
5 (4), stating that he must give you an answer within 15 days
29

30. Voluminous information.
• If voluminous information has been sought,
which would take too much resources,
estimate the number of pages in which the
information may exist and offer to give the
pages from which information would have to
be collated, at Rs. 2 per page. Also offer an
inspection of the records to the applicant.-
Section 7 (9) and suggest two dates with time.
30

31. First appellate authority
• 1. A statutory duty.
• 2. A very important role.
• 3. As soon as an appeal is received it must be
listed for hearing-preferably within 10 days.
• 4. A reasoned speaking order must be issued.
• 5. A good appellate mechanism will save
officers from penalties
31

32. • Critical role of the First appellate authority.
• It is a duty which must be fulfilled.
• Hearings are a must, unless the appellate authority is
convinced that the information must be provided.
• Reasoned orders must be given keeping in mind the
RTI Act.
• When asking for information to be provided identify
it clearly.
• If appellate authority does not discharge its function,
Commission recommends disciplinary action
32

33. • From. Name and Designation of PIO with
Address and Phone number.
• To (Name and address of the applicant)
• Your RTI application dated …….. received on ………..
• With respect to your above mentioned application, we are pleased to
inform you that the following information can be provided to you on
payment of fees as shown below:
• 1. A4 size pages nos. @ Rs. 2 each Rs.
• 2. Other size papers nos. @ Rs. Each Rs.
• 3. Floppies or CDs nos. @ Rs. 50 each Rs.
• 5. Postage charges
________________
• Total Rs.
• Please pay the fees at ………………(place), or send a demand draft or IPO in
the name of ……… so that we may give you the information.
• We wish to inform you that the following information is not being given to
you, since the following exemption clauses apply:
• Information severed
• Exemption clause
• Reasoning how exemption clause applies.
• If you wish to appeal against this decision you can appeal within 30 days
to :
• Name, address and telephone number of appellate authority.
•
33

34. Reply in regard to application under Right To
Information Act 22 of 2005
• From: Name and Designation of PIO
• Address and Phone number.
• To
• (Name and address of the applicant)
• Your RTI application dated …….. received on ………..
• Sir,
• With respect to your above mentioned application, we regret to inform
you that the information requested by you, cannot be provided for the
reasons given below:
• Information refused
• Exemption clause
• Reasoning how exemption clause applies.
• If you wish to appeal against this decision you can appeal within 30 days
to :
• Name, address and telephone number of appellate authority.
• Signature of PIO
34

35. • To
• (Name and address of the applicant)
• Your RTI application dated …….. received on ………..
• Sir,
• With respect to your above mentioned application, we regret to inform
you that the information requested by you, cannot be provided in the
format sought by you, since it would disproportionately divert our
resources.
• However as per Section 7 (9), we can offer you inspection of the relevant
files on ………. (offer 3 alternate dates with times).
• Or We can however give you photocopies from the relevant records. The
additional fees for this will be:.
• 1. A4 size pages nos. @ Rs. 2 each
• 2. Other size papers nos. @ Rs. each
• 3. Floppies or CDs nos. @ Rs. 50 each
• If you wish to appeal against this decision you can appeal within 30 days to
:
• Name, address and telephone number of appellate authority.
• Signature of PIO
35

36. Some bottlenecks
• Lack of culture of transparency.
• Lack of awareness of the law amongst
Citizens and PIOs.
• Information Commission’s slow pace of
disposals.
• Unwillingness to accept mistakes.
36

37. RTI 2005
• An Act to Provide Information.
• Public interest is Paramount.
• Leads to true participatory democracy-
SWARAJ.
• Transparency brings flaws and faults upfront and
improves systems and governance.
• Truth and Sunlight are healthy.
• DSSB
37

38. Visit:
For earlier judgments by the CIC and RTI’s filed
http://www.moneylife.in/life/right-to-information
For additional information on RTI
http://www.rti.india.gov.in
38
Formore on RTI

39. Mera Bharat Mahaan…

40. Mera Bharat Mahaan... Nahi
Hai,

41. Mera Bharat Mahaan...
Nahi Hai,
PerYeh Dosh Mera Hai.