THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT(India), 2005
(Act No. 22 of 2005)
In order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, The Right to Information Act, 2005 was provided for citizens to access to information under the control of public authorities.
It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Under this Act, everyone has the access to the information, which is held by or under the control of any public authority.
Information may be any document, file and extracts of certified copies of documents or records or any other material produced by a computer or any other device.
Request for obtaining information
(1) A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is being made, accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to
(a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, of the
concerned public authority;
(b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case
may be, specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her:
Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the Central Public Information Officer or State
Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.
(2) An applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the
information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him.
(3) Where an application is made to a public authority requesting for an information,—
(i) which is held by another public authority; or
(ii) the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority, the public authority, to which such application is made. shall transfer the application or such part of it as maye appropriate to that other public authority and inform the applicant immediately about such transfer: Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant to this sub-section shall be made as soon as practicable but in no case later than five days from the date of receipt of the application.
The Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, on receipt
of a request shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within 30 days of the receipt of the request. Either provide the information on payment of such fee as may be prescribed or reject the request for any of
the reasons specified. The information sought for concerns the life or liberty of a person, the same shall be provided within 48 hours of the receipt of the request.
The payment for obtaining information under this Act in the form of Indian Postal Order and Demand Draft.
http://rti.gov.in/
