Our Right To Information

 
 
 

---

 

---

SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
OUR RIGHT
TO
INFORMATION
BOOKLET FOR CITIZENS
ON
RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005
SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
www.rti-sam.org
KNOW ABOUT RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005 - USE IT

---

new
SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1.
S. K. Ahluwalia, IAS (Retd.)
Patron
98728-01705
2.
Dr. Rajinder Kumar
President
98153-21565
3.
D.C. Gupta, IDAS (Retd.)
Gen. Secretary
98556-05778
4.
O.P. Garg
Finance Secy.
98155-65675
5.
K.S. Bedi
Senior Vice President
99889-94651
6.
Dr. Baljeet Kaur
Vice President
98146-33699
7.
K.C. Sharma
Vice President
93162-15207
8.
Davinder Singh
Secretary
94172-54599
9.
Navdeep Gupta
Legal Advisor &
98145-21530
Press Secretary
10.
Lakhwinder Sarin
APRO
98762-33266
11.
Gopal Singh
Executive Member
94178-12899
12.
T.C. Bansal
Executive Member
98159-05675
13.
M.L. Bhanot
Executive Member
97813-51271
14.
Vinod Kumar
Executive Member
98146-46199
15.
Dr. N.K. Sharma
Executive Member
94633-78416
16.
Balwinder Singh Bedi
Executive Member
98724-99066
17.
Dr. P.S. Goraya
Executive Member
98760-81020
18.
Dr. Tejbir Singh Sandhu
Executive Member
98156-50972
KNOW ABOUT RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005 - USE IT
4

---

SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
FOREWORD
I am glad to know that Suchna Adhikar Manch (Regd.) is publishing a Guide on the
Right to information. The Right to Information Act, 2005 is the recognition of the people’s Right
to Information which is proclaimed as a fundamental right in our constitution. This Act gives the
citizens Right to Information at par with the members of Parliament and members of State
Legislatures.
The Act aims at bringing transparency in governance and promoting accountability in the
functioning of public authorities. No doubt the citizens have got powerful weapon in their hands
but its responsible use is the need of the hour. Therefore, it is very necessary that Public Information
Officers and people in general and particularly those living in rural areas and those belonging to
unprivileged class of the society should be imparted extensive training for the proper use of this
Act. The extensive use of the Act would increase the participation of the public in the functioning
of our democratic set up.
I have been apprised that Suchna Adhikar Manch (Regd.) has already organized seminars
to make public aware of their right under the Act and now by bringing out a Guide for citizens the
Manch has done a commendable service. This Guide will simplify the usage of the Right to
Information Act, 2005 by the common people.
I appreciate the efforts of the SAM (Regd.) and wish them every success in their en-
deavour.
It is also quite appreciable that this Guide-Booklet will be distributed free of cost to the
general public by the Manch.
12th May, 2010
Kulbir Singh
State Information Commissioner, Punjab,
Chandigarh
KNOW ABOUT RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005 - USE IT
1

---

SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
;zd/ô
fJj pVh õ[ôh dh rZb j? fe ;{uBk nfXeko wzu (ofiH) tZb'A nkw b'eK ftu ikro{esk g?dk eoB
bJh ;{uBk nfXeko nfXfB:w-2005 dh tos'A ;pzXh fJe toeôkg dk nk:'iB ehsk ik fojk j? .
fJ; nt;o s/ T[BQK tZb'A ;{uBk nfXeko nfXfB:w-2005 s/ ikoh ehsh ik ojh fJj g[;fsek
nkw b'eK bJh w[øs T[gbZpX j't/rh ns/ fJ; nfXfB:w nXhB pDd/ nfXekoK s'A T[BQK ù
ikD{ eotkJ/rh .
ni'e/ ;w/A ftu ;{uBk nfXeko nfXfB:w-2005 ikDekoh gqkgs eoB dk fJe pj[s jh
ôeshôkbh wkfXnw pD u[ek j? .
fJ; dh ;G s'A tZvh yk;hns fJj j? fe j[D fJj nkw nkdwh dh gj[zu ftu j? ns/ pj[s jh
feøkfJsh doK s/ fJ; okjhA g/Av{ gzukfJsh gZXo s'A b? e/ okôNogsh GtB sZe dh ;{uBk gqkgs
eoB dk jZedko pD frnk . fJ; nfXfB:w Bkb fiZE/ døsoh ekoi-gqDkbh ftu gkodoôsk
ns/ ;[Xko nkfJnk j? T[; d/ Bkb-Bkb jh nø;oK$eowukohnK dh ekoi-e[ôbsk ftu th
fByko nkfJnk j? .
nk; j? fe nkT[D tkb/ ;w/A ftu ;{uBk nfXeko nfXfB:w-2005 Gkos d/ ;[fBjoh GftZy dh
fJe BthA fJpkos fby/rk . fJ; d/ Bkb jh w?A ;{uBk nfXeko wzu (ofiH) ù T[BQK tZb'A ehs/ fJ;
;[fjod T[gokb/ bJh tXkJh fdzdh jK s/ T[whd eodh jK fe nkT[D tkb/ ;w/A ftu th T[j fJ;
fdôk ftu Bt/A w[ekw jk;b eoBr/ .
(pbpho e"o)
vkfJo?eNo, Gkôk ftGkr, gzikp
KNOW ABOUT RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005 - USE IT
2

---

SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
S. K. Ahluwalia
Regional Project Director
IAS (Retd.)
Regional Centre, MGSIPAP,
Patiala
MESSAGE
I t is a matter of proud privilege to note that “Suchna Adhikar Manch (Regd.), Patiala”
has published a booklet on the subject of “Right to Information Act, 2005” for free distribution
to the public. I think this is a noble cause for creating a sense of awakening in the general masses
regarding the act. The Manch deserves appreciation for pursuit of noble ideals in providing a
Forum to enable citizens to secure access to information under the control of Public Authorities
in order to promote transparency and accountability in working of every public authority. I wish
all the success to the Manch.
S. K. Ahluwalia
6th May, 2010
IAS (Retd.)
KNOW ABOUT RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005 - USE IT
3

---

SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
BOOKLET FOR CITIZENS
ON
RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005
OBJECT OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT
The basic object of the Right to Information Act, 2005 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. This act is a big step towards making the
citizens informed about the activities of the Government.
RTI ACT, 2005 received the assent of the President of India on 15-06-2005 but full Act
came into force on 12th October, 2005
RIGHT TO INFORMATION UNDER THE ACT
A citizen has a right to seek such information from a public authority which is held by the public
authority or which is held under its control. This right includes
(i)
inspection of work, documents and records
(ii)
taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records
(iii)
taking certified samples of material held by the public authority
(iv)
taking copies of file notings
This act gives the citizens a Right To Information at par with the Members of Parlia-
ment and the Members of State Legislatures. According to the act, the information
which can not be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature, shall not be denied
to any person.
A citizen has a right to obtain information from a Public Authority in the form of diskettes,
floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through print-outs provided
such information is already stored in a computer or in any other device from which the
information may be e-mailed or transferred to diskettes etc.
The information should ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought.
KNOW ABOUT RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005 - USE IT
5

---

SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
SUPPLY OF INFORMATION TO NGO/ASSOCIATIONS ETC.
The Act gives the right to information only to the citizens of India. It does not make provision
for giving information to Corporations, Associations, Companies etc. which are legal entities/
persons but not citizens. However, if an application is made by an employee or office
bearer of any Corporation, Association, Company, NGO etc. indicating his name and
such employee/office bearer is a citizen of India, information may be supplied to him/
her. In such cases it would be presumed that a citizen has sought information at the address of the
Corporation etc.
RIGHT TO INFORMATION VIS-À-VIS OTHER ACTS
As per Section 22 of RTI Act 2005, this act would over-ride all existing Acts including official
Secrets Act, 1923.
WHAT IS INFORMATION
Under this Act, the word 'Information' has been given a very wide meaning. Any material in any
form including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars,
orders, log books, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any elec-
tronic form. It also includes information relating to any private body which can be assessed by
a public authority under any other law for the time being in force.
WHAT IS A PUBLIC AUTHORITY
A 'Public Authority' means any government office, department or institution constituted-
a)
by or under the constitution
b)
by any other law made by Parliament or a State Legislature
c)
by notification issued or order made by the Central Government or a State Government.
d)
The bodies owned, controlled, or substantially financed by the Central Government or
a State Government and non-government organizations substantially financed by the
Central Government or State Government also fall within the definition of Public
Authority.
The financing of the body or the NGO by the government may bedirect or indirect.
KNOW ABOUT RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005 - USE IT
6

---

SUCHNA ADHIKAR MANCH (Regd.)
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO)
Public Authorities have designated some of its officers as Public Information Officer. They are
responsible to provide information to a person who seeks information under the RTI Act.
ASSISTANT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (APIO)
These are the officers at Sub-Divisional level to whom a person can give his RTI application or
appeal. These officers send the application or appeal to the Public Information Officer of the
Public Authority or the concerned Appellate Authority. An Assistant Public Information
Officer is not responsible to supply the information.
FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY (FAA)
First Appellate Authority means an authority so appointed or notified by Public Authority under
the Act and includes a Head of Office or Head of Public Authority if no First Appellate Authority
is appointed or notified. First Appellate Authority shall be senior in rank to the Public
Information Officer. Any person who does not receive a decision within the time specified or
is aggrieved by a decision of PIO, may file an appeal to First Appellate Authority within 30 days
from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision.
ASSISTANCE AVAILBLE TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
The Public Information Officer may seek the assistance of any other officer for the proper dis-
charge of his duties. The officer whose assistance is so sought by the Public Information Officer,
would render all assistance to him. Such an officer shall be deemed to be a Public Information
Officer and would be liable for contravention of any provision of the act the same way as any other
Public Information Officer. It will remain the responsibility of the officer who has been des-
ignated as Public Information Officer by the Public Authority to provide the information
to the applicant or reject the application for any reasons.
This act enables the Public Information Officer to seek assistance of any other officer to
enable him to provide information to the information seeker but it does not give him
authority to designate any other officer as Public Information Officer and direct him to
send reply to the applicant. In nut shell, if the officer whose assistance is sought by the Public
Information Officer, does not render necessary help to him, the Information Commission may
impose penalty on such officer or recommend disciplinary action against him the same way as
the Commission may impose penalty on or recommend disciplinary action against the Public
Information Officer.
KNOW ABOUT RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005 - USE IT
7

---