Right to Information Act

(RTI)
An Act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to
information for citizens to secure access to information under
the control of public authorities, in order to promote
transparency and accountability in the working of every public
authority, the constitution of a Central Information Commission
and State Information Commissions and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto
Right to Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen
requests for government information. It is an initiative taken by
Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions to provide a RTI Portal Gateway
to the citizens for quick search of information on the details of first
Appellate Authorities,PIOs etc. amongst others, besides access to RTI
related information / disclosures published on the web by various
Public Authorities under the government of India as well as the State
Governments
What is RTI act ?
Right to Information movement
In the early 2000s Hazare led a movement
in Maharashtra state which forced the state
government to enact a revised
Maharashtra Right to Information Act. This
Act was later considered as the base
document for the Right to Information Act
2005 (RTI), enacted by the Union
Government. It also ensured that the
President of India assented to this new Act.
On 20 July 2006 the Union Cabinet
amended the Right to Information Act 2005
to exclude the file noting by the
government officials from its purview.
Hazare began his fast unto death on 9
August 2006 in Alandi against the
proposed amendment. He ended his fast
on 19 August 2006, after the government
agreed to change its earlier decision.
He is known for his efforts to enact and
implement the Right to Information Act
(RTI) at the grassroots level and his role in
drafting a proposed Jan Lokpal Bill.
What is the Information ?
Information is nay material in any form. It includes records, documents, memos, e-mail, opinions,
advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data
material held in any electronic relating to any private body which can be accessed by the public
authority under any law for the time being in force.
Exempted Organisations
The List of 22 exempted organizations is given below:
Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Ministry of Finance
Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Finance
Directorate of Enforcement, Ministry of Finance
Narcotics Control Bureau
Aviation Research Centre
Special Frontier Force
Border Security Force, Ministry of Home Affairs
Central Reserve Police Force, Ministry of Home Affairs
Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Ministry of Home Affairs
Central Industrial Security Force, Ministry of Home Affairs
National Security Guard, Ministry of Home Affairs
Research & Analysis Wing of The Cabinet Secretariat
Assam Rifles, Ministry of Home Affairs
Sashastra Seema Bal, Ministry of Home Affairs
Special Protection Group
Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence
Border Road Development Organisation
Financial Intelligence Unit, India
Directorate General Income Tax (Investigation)
National Technical Research Organisation
National Security Council Secretariat


When did RTI act come into force : 12
th
Oct 2005

Can you ask for reports and records : YES

Who can seek information under the RTI : Individual citizen of
India

Which officer provides the information in the public authority :
Public Information Officer (PIO)

Within what time should the information be provided : 30 days

Within what time should the information be provided incase of life
& death : 48 hrs

If information is denied or not provided : Appeal to appellate
authority

Are you required to provide the reason for asking information :
NO

What can you do if the first appeal is not replied : Appeal to
Information commission

Few important points about RTI
http://rti.gov.in/