The Right to Information (RTI) Act is a law enacted by the Government of India to provide Indian citizens with the right to access information from public authorities. To file RTI in India helps to hold public authorities accountable by requiring them to respond to requests for information in a timely manner.
To file an RTI in India, you can follow the below steps:
- Identify the public authority: You will need to identify the public authority that holds the information you are seeking. This can be a government department, agency, any other body that is funded, controlled, or financed by the government.
- Determine the information you need: You should be specific about the information you are seeking, as it will help the public authority in locating and provide the information to you.
- Write the RTI application: You can write the RTI application in English, Hindi, or the official language of the area in which the public authority is located. The RTI application should include the following details:
- Your name, address, and contact details
- The information you are seeking
- The public authority from which you are seeking the information
- Submit the RTI application: You can submit the RTI application in any of the following ways:
- In-person: You can submit the RTI application in person to the public authority’s designated RTI officer or at the reception of the public authority.
- By post: You can send the RTI application by post to the designated RTI officer of the public authority.
- Online: Many public authorities have an online portal where you can submit the RTI application. You can also submit the RTI application through the CPGRAMS website.
- Pay the fee: You will need to pay a fee to file an RTI application. The fee is INR 10 for Indian citizens and INR 50 for foreign citizens.
- Wait for a response: The public authority is required to provide a response to your RTI application within 30 days. If the public authority fails to provide a response or provides incomplete information, you can appeal to the higher authorities.
Once you have received the response to your RTI application, you may need to take further steps depending on the nature of the response. Here are a few scenarios and the steps you may need to take:
- If you receive the information you requested: If you receive the information you requested and are satisfied with it, you can consider your RTI application closed.
- If you receive incomplete information: If you feel that the information provided by the public authority is incomplete, you can ask for additional information or by writing a letter to the public authority.
- If the public authority denies your request: If the public authority denies your request for information, you have the right to appeal the decision. You can file an appeal with the FAA of the public authority.
- If the FAA denies your appeal: If the FAA denies your appeal, you can file a second appeal with the CIC or SIC, depending on the nature of the public authority.
I hope this information helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
