Consular Services

FAQ on RTI

When did the Right to Information Act, 2005 come into force?
Who is covered under the Right to Information Act, 2005?
Are "file notings' included in the definition of Information?
If the law under which a Public Sector Unit (PSU) has been constituted does not allow access to information to the people such as agendas of board meetings etc., will such information have to be given under the RTI Act?
Government offices have been providing information to people on the basis of their oral requests in the past. Does the RTI Act require such informal practices to end?
Can Government officers get access to Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) under the RTI Act?
Can students ask for copies or inspection of their answer scripts if they are unhappy with the marks awarded by the examiner in public examinations?
Every department performs different kind of functions at different levels of operation from the Secretariat to the Taluka/Village level. Will disclosure under Section 4(1)(b)have to be made for every one of these levels separately?
Will not the publication of the 17 manuals mentioned under Section 4(1) (b) be very difficult and burdensome?
Is it enough to disseminate information under Section 4 (1) (b) on the Internet?
Is it enough to publish information under Section 4 (1) (b) only once at the time of the commencement of the RTI Act?
What will be the penalty if a public authority/department is not able to meet the deadline for proactive disclosure (120 days)?
Can a request be denied if it is too big? If not, how can we handle such requests best? How much information can a citizen request in one application? If he/she asks 20-30 kinds of information in one application should it be given? Or should the citizen be asked to put in fresh applications for each point of information requested and also be asked to pay application fees every time?
If in a single application the applicant requests information that relates to a public authority and also other public authority/authorities, is the PIO responsible for giving all that information himself/herself?
Is it possible that some elements may misuse this law and use the information to blackmail/threaten officers?
If there is a flood of applications for inspection of records how will the PIO provide access to all applicants and also do justice to his/her other designated duties? What if one such applicant mutilates or destroys a record during inspection?
If the same kind of information is sought by more than one person should it be made available to all such requesters?
If the information requested by a citizen has already been proactively disclosed can a PIO refuse to accept the request?
Is the Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) an assistant to the Public Information Officer (PIO)?
If the information requested by the applicant is in the possession of the APIO should he/she not give that information to the applicant?
If a PIO has touring duties as well, then he will not be physically present to receive application in the office. Will his absence amount to refusal to accept information request?
Will Panchayats/Municipalities (or any local authority) have to appoint PIOs irrespective of the size of their office / administrative unit?
Should BPL applicants be charged for being provided the requested information?
If the applicant does not pay the additional fees towards cost of providing information within the 30 days deadline will the PIO be penalized for failing to provide information to the applicant?
Some unscrupulous elements may misuse the copies of documents they access under the RTI Act. How does one prevent such misuse of information released under the RTI Act?
If the applicant does not respond to the intimation letter of the PIO requesting payment of further fee will the PIO be duty-bound to provide information to the applicant? Will the PIO be duty-bound to provide information within 30 days even in such cases?
Are officials required to give information about themselves and their families under the law? Can the public request this kind of information? Should it be given?
Can any citizen ask any information that is more than 20 years old even if it does fall within the category of exemptions? Will the PIO be penalized if he/she is unable to provide such information?
In cases where building plans and designs of bridges or other important public structures have been requested and if the PIO has reasonable suspicion that the applicant will use those plans for commercial purposes and make a profit out of it, should such information be given?
If a case is still under consideration (i.e., 'live' or 'current' file) for final decision, can that file be made available to the requester before the decision has been taken?
What if existing departmental manuals prevent disclosure of information to the people?
Periodic weeding of files results in destruction of many documents which are not important enough to maintain for as long as 20 years or more. So it will not be possible to give such information after they have been destroyed. Will the PIO be penalized for this?
What is the process for taking a decision on granting partial access to a record? Who is the authority to make this decision within a public authority?
Will the APIO be punished for giving wrong or misleading information just as a PIO can be penalized under this Act?
Will a PIO be penalized if the superior officer orders him not to release information to the requester?
If the information given by the PIO in response to a request turns out to be wrong, false or misleading but the PIO was not responsible for the creation of that record or such information will he/she be penalized by the ICs?
What if the applicant claims that he/she did not receive the intimation letter from the PIO and files an appeal with the AO and the Information Commission? Will the PIO be penalized?
The PIO continues to be under the purview of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) of 1923. How will he reconcile his duties under the RTI Act with the secrecy required to be maintained under the OSA? What happens to the oath of secrecy every officer is required to take while joining service?
What is Public Interest?
What is the jurisdiction of courts?