Rs 31,000 sought for RTI info

The Times Of India; Wed, Dec 22, 2010,

PUNE: An RTI applicant has alleged that the State agriculture marketing department demanded more than Rs 30,000 from him as charges for "searching an information".

As per the complaint registered with the information commissioner, Sudhir Kulkarni had applied for information under Right to Information (RTI) on November 24. The State agriculture marketing department asked him to pay Rs 4,414 for documents and Rs 26,385 for collecting the information i.e. total Rs 30,799.

"The department officials argued that two government employees took 15 days to find out the information. So, the fee for information search should be given. There is no provision of taking money for searching information, but this office demanded it. So action should be taken against them."

Kulkarni also demanded a report against the guilty. And, if more cases are found in which money was charged for information search, refund should be given to the applicants, he said in his complaint.

RTI commissioner Vijay Kuvalekar said that commenting on a case without studying it in details would be incorrect. "In general, I can say that it is wrong to demand money as charges for gathering information under the RTI."