Live Law: New Delhi: Tuesday, May 09, 2017.
The Central
Information Commission on Friday reiterated its recommendation for the issue of
RTI-stamps or numbered RTI-coupons as mode for payment of RTI-fees.
“Therefore,
there needs to be an immediate remedial action in respect of the confusion thus
created as a result of the procedural lacunae resulting in RTI applications
getting stuck in such administrative web. Therefore, the Commission felt that
DoP&T and Department of Posts necessarily need to coordinate and initiate
steps to introduce RTI stamps or numbered RTI coupons to eliminate prevailing
ambiguity with regard to Rule 06 of the RTI Rules, 2012, on the mode of payment
of RTI Fee keeping in view the experience in handling similar issues on a day
to day basis,” Information Commissioner Bimal Julka observed.
While making
the suggestion, Mr. Julka noted that similar observations have earlier been
made by a full-Bench comprising commissioners Satyananda Mishra, M.L. Sharma
and Basant Seth. Subsequently, several other Commissioners had recommended the
use of RTI-stamps in their verdicts. A representation in this regard was also
made to the DoPT by the Joint Secretary at CIC on directions of the present CIC
Radha Krishna Mathur.
The
reiteration of the suggestion now came up on an appeal filed by RTI Activist
Mr. Subhash Chandra Agrawal, after his RTI application was returned by the
Public authority merely on the basis of the RTI Fee having been furnished in
favour of the ‘Accounts Officer’ instead of DDO, D/o Public Enterprises. This,
the CIC observed, “highlights the anomaly in the procedures followed in
accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.”
The suggestion
to introduce RTI stamps has, in the past, been rejected by a committee
constituted by the Government, opining that such stamps were neither legally
nor financially feasible. The Postal Department had then constituted a new
committee to take a relook at the issue.