CIC recommends DoPT to issue special stamps for payment of RTI fee

Merinews‎‎‎: New Delhi: Tuesday, June 28, 2016.

It refers to welcome recommendations by Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) made to Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) for issue of special RTI stamps at a time when handling of postal-orders usually used towards RTI fees costs Rs. 37.45 as per financial year 2011-12.

Moreover, there is presently no mode of remitting copying-charges below rupees ten because postal orders of lower denominations are now discontinued.

Chief Information Commissioner should also recommend measures to prevent misuse of RTI Act. Fake RTI petitions in the names of others are filed by certain mischievous persons also causing unwanted embarrassment to those whose name/address is misused.

Several persons of Indian origin, but with foreign nationality can also use RTI Act even though it is for Indian citizens only. Identification Proof bearing signature of RTI petitioner should be compulsory to be enclosed with RTI petitions.

Also copying charges of first twenty copied pages (forty rupees) should be added in basic RTI fees to make it rupees fifty. Step will save huge man-hours and postal charges of public-authorities and petitioners in demanding/remitting copying charges. Step will not affect persons below poverty line because they are exempted from paying RTI fees and copying charges.