WHAT IS RTI & HOW TO WRITE AN RTI APPLICATION?

The RTI Act confers on all citizens a right to information. The Act provides for setting out the

The practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information held by public authorities to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.

RTI means rights to information. This is the law that was enforced in the year of 2005. RTI is used to obtain information from the government or from any concerned department. Most people know this much only about RTI. But today I will partake in some interesting facts about RTI.

• Through RTI you can ask any question from the government and get information.
• Through RTI you can scrutinize any documents of the government.
• Through RTI you can authenticate any documents of the government.
• Through RTI you can get information and sample of any materials which are used.
• Through RTI you can investigate any work, how much of the work being carried away.

What are some important sections which are significant?

Section 6 (1) — deals with RTI application.

Section 6 (3) —- if your application is wrongly sent to the incorrect department, then this department will send the correct department within 5 days.

Section 7 (5) —– BPL holders get free information from RTI.

Section 7 (6) —– if your information has not been processed within 30days, then you will get information free of charge.

Part 18 —— if any officer is refusing to provide information, you can Grievance against him.

Part 8—— it deals information shall not provide if it against nation-states unity or if its effect or influence inquiry.

Section 19 (1) —- if your information has not proceeded within 30days, then you can appeal for information within 90days to the concerned officer.

Some years back before RTI, when common people used to face huge difficulty getting the information from Government departments. But this problem has been solved through RTI. According to RTI 2005 act, we the common people got the right to know the information from any government department, we can collect the information on how much government has been invested and spent in our village or state/ district and how much fund has used to the extent of benefit. Such type of information we can collect from RTI. RTI has been implemented in 2005 but still, people don’t recognize it.

What are the departments where RTI can use?

• Tribunals, Courts.
• Government departments and agencies.
• Sansad
• Government hospitals.
• Election Commission
• Prime Minister, Rajpal, president, chief minister.
• Government-funded NGO.

• Government phone company.
• Government insurance company.

What are the departments where we cannot enforce RTI?

Through RTI we cannot gather such information which is personal and that can influence and danger to the nation. Such information influence and create chaos in our internal security, army, police. These data cannot be collected.

How to apply RTI.

Applying for RTI is simple. For applying RTI only you need a plain paper and pen, write your questions, ask what you want to know, and send it to the concerned department by paying 10 rupees.

What are the things you should keep in mind while applying for RTI?

• Write in a simple manner and ask clearly.
• The applicant should ask for information and inquiry from the concerned department.
• Send the application through speed post only.
• The RTI Act doesn’t permit to access some restricted information, check it before if your information comes from it.

How and where to send the RTI application?

To avail the information through RTI central government made certain arrangements. The central government has made 621 dedicated public information awareness through the postal service office. You can go to any one of the counters by paying 10 rupees and submit your RTI application. They will provide your receipt, then after, the post office is responsible for sending your RTI application to the concerned authority.

APPEAL IF YOUR INFORMATION IS NOT BEEN PROCESSED.

First Appeal: First appeal to the officer senior in rank to the PIO in the concerned Public Authority within 30 days from the expiry of the prescribed time limit or from the receipt of the decision (delay may be condoned by the Appellate Authority if sufficient cause is shown).

Second Appeal: the Second appeal to the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission as the case may be, within 90 days of the date on which the decision was given or should have been made by the First Appellate Authority (delay may be condoned by the Commission if sufficient cause is shown)

.

The third-Party appeal against PIO’s decision must be filed within 30 days before the first Appellate Authority; and, within 90 days of the decision on the first appeal, before the appropriate Information Commission which is the second appellate authority.

HOW TO WRITE AN RTI APPLICATION?

This implies that to file your first RTI, you must perform the following:

Measure 1: – Prepare a list of queries. Make certain that you have numbered your questions.

Step 2: – Insert an introductory text which can be like a letter. It can contain some general text like-

Honored Sir, kindly provide me the following information… followed by your doubts.

Step 3: – Insert footer after the questions. Here you should set the sequential number of the Postal Order which you have used as the application fee. Footer can contain information regarding whether the information sought is public information. Or, whether you are a concerned party and you can also specify a reason for asking for this information (optional). Conclude the letter with your signature.

Step 4: – Like any other letter, you can put a subject line stating ‘Request for information under Right to Information Act 2005’.

Step 5: – Add the from and to fields appropriately.

Using a paper clip, attach the postal order with your letter and put it in an envelope. Gratuitous to say, write the address of the addressee on the envelope. Your RTI Application format is ready. This will, of course, be altered according to the info sought.