India.com: Mumbai: Tuesday,
March 25, 2014.
Right To
Information or the more commonly used term RTI, we have all heard it from
either our Civics text books or more recently from a famous prime ministerial
candidate. We all understand that we have a basic right to information, but how
much do we know about the RTI Act and its actual process? Did you know that RTI
is not applicable for Jammu and Kashmir? In the recent episode of Satyamev
Jayate, Kings Every Day, Aamir Khan shed some light on the basics of this act
with the help of Mr. Shankar Singh, former member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti
Sangatan. Here are five things you need to know about RTI!
1. What is
RTI
As the name
suggests, it is right to information. This was introduced in the parliament to
provide a practical regime of the right to information (one of our fundamental
rights). Under this act we can question every act of a public authority,
central or state government, etc. any information about the government deeds in
a certain area can be attained by simply filling out a form.
2. How do we
use it?
All you need
for filing an RTI is a Rs. 10 court fee stamp, an identity proof (pan card/
passport/ration card/ driver’s license) and of course a typed or written paper.
The main aim of this letter is to keep it short and simple. You can ask for any
documents you wish to verify or investigate, from the profits or costing of
government projects to the nuisance records against any particular government
institution.
3. Charges
The basic
charges of filing a RTI is Rs 10 for the court fee stamp. Additional fee differ
from state to state. The costing of photocopies, providing CDs, etc. of the
requested documents will be charged accordingly.
4. Timely
Supply
According to
the act the information should be provided within 30 days with the exception of
certain special circumstances. If the information concerns the life or liberty
of a person, it should be provided within 48 hours. If the information is not
provided within the timeline, it is then to be given free of charge.
5. Exclusions
While the RTI
applies to most of our states and all our union territories, there are certain
data which has been excluded for various reasons. The RTI act is not available
for Jammu and Kashmir. Central Intelligence and Security agencies specified in
the Second Schedule like IB, Directorate General of Income tax(Investigation),
RAW, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence, Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, Directorate of Enforcement,
Narcotics Control Bureau, Aviation Research Centre, Special Frontier Force,
BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, NSG, Assam Rifles, Special Service Bureau, Special
Branch (CID), Andaman and Nicobar, The Crime Branch-CID-CB, Dadra and Nagar
Haveli and Special Branch, Lakshadweep Police. Agencies specified by the State
Governments through a Notification will also be excluded. Also, Students cannot
attain their exam answer sheets for personal evaluation under this act.
.JPG)
.JPG)
