Right To Information [RTI]

• The Right To Information Act, 2005 [RTI Act] confers right to access to information held by a Public Authority on all Citizens. The basic object of the Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense. It goes without saying that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the government more accountable. The Act is a big step towards making the citizens informed about the activities of the Government.

  In case any public authority denies access to the information sought by the information seeker, the said seeker may file a Complaint before the following:

  • Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be; or before [upon refusal by these authorities to receive the Complaint of the information seeker] [PIO]

  • Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be; or before [upon refusal by these authorities to receive the Complaint of the information seeker] [PIO]

  • Central Information Commission or State Information Commission [CIC]. The original Complaint before the CIC lies only above two avenues are not in place and / or are non-functional due to any reason what so ever.

  In the event of being aggrieved by wrong or insufficient supply of information, one may prefer within 30 days an Appeal (First Appeal) before such officer who is senior in rank to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be.

  If someone feels aggrieved by First Appellate Authority’s Order, he or she may prefer within 90 days an Appeal (Second Appeal) before Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission [CIC]

  The decision of the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission [CIC], as the case may be, shall be binding, subject to its challenge in the Hon'ble Supreme Court Of India.

  The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, has the power to:

  • require the public authority to take any such steps as may be necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of this Act, including- (i). by providing access to information, if so requested, in a particular form; (ii). by appointing a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be; (iii). by publishing certain information or categories of information; (iv). by making necessary changes to its practices in relation to the maintenance and destruction of records; (v). by enhancing the provision of training on the right to information for its officials; (vi). by providing it with an annual report.

  • require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered;

  • impose any of the penalties provided under this Act;

  • reject the application.

                                                                                                                          Hierarchical order of the Court & Fora in the RTI matters is as follows:

  • Supreme Court Of India

  • Chief Information Commissioner [CIC],

  • Central Public Information Officer [CPIO]

  Courts & Fora: Central Information Commission; Club Building (Near Post Office); Old JNU Campus, New Delhi ­ 110067; Tel: +91­11­26101592; Website CIC.

  Hello Counsel’s Legal Team likes to assist its clients in seeking information from the concerned authorities/ departments if the brief to them so warrants to elicit the truth from the opposite party in the Court of law. For convenience sake we have classified the entire subject under RTI Act in the following categories.

                                                                                                                                                     Vital Features Of Right To Information [RTI]

  • Assistance Available From CPIOs

  • Appeal: First Appeal

  • Appeal: Second Appeal

  • Appeal: To the CIC

  • Complaints

  • Complaint to the CIC

  • Disposal of the Request

  • Exempted Organisations

  • Exemptions from Disclosure

  • Fee for Seeking Information

  • Format of Application

  • Method of Seeking Information

  • Right to Information under the Act

  • Suo Motu Disclosure

                                                                                                                                                                                  Related Links

  • Bare Acts- Related Legal provisions.

  • Format of the Plaint to be filed before- Nodal Officer

  • Format of the Plaint to be filed before- First Appwllate Authority

  • Format of the Plaint to be filed before- CIC

  • Format of the Plaint to be filed before- High Court Of Various States

  • Format of the Plaint to be filed before- Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.

  • Judgments- High Court of various states & the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India

  Kindly CLICK HERE or e-mail us at info@hellocounsel.com if you are facing any Legal Issue and want to have Legal Consultations with the empanelled Lawyers at Hello Counsel.