Use of Postal Stamps for Payment of RTI Fees not Feasible - DOPT

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

11-March-2015 17:38 IST

Postal Stamps as RTI Fee

The Government has constituted a committee consisting of representatives of Department of Personnel & Training, Central Information Commission, Department of Posts and Office of Controller of Accounts (Department of Personnel & Training) to examine whether postal stamps can be used for payment of RTI fees under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Committee has given its report on 24.02.2015. The Committee has observed that the use of postage stamps as mode of payment for RTI fee/costs is neither legally feasible nor feasible from the accounting point of view. Moreover, it would not be in line with the Government initiatives towards Digital India. Hence, the Committee has recommended that postage stamps may not be used as mode of payment for RTI fee/costs. The report of the Committee has been accepted by the competent authority.

The Central Government has already launched RTI Online portal for online filing of RTI applications, including online payment of RTI fee/costs. Moreover, the facility of eIPO (electronic India Postal Order) has been launched for purchase of IPOs electronically by online payment.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Dhananjay Mahadik, Shri Satav Rajeev, Dr. Heena Vijaykumar Gavit and Shri Mohite Patil Vijayasinh Shankarrao in the Lok Sabha today

Source: PIB

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Dopt orders regarding personal details of RTI applicants circulation of

Dopt orders regarding personal details of RTI applicants circulation of...

No. 1/31/2013-IR

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi,

Dated the 8th January, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Order dated 20.11.2013 of the High Court of Kolkata in Writ Petition No 33290 of 2013 in the case of Mr Avishek Goenka Vs Union of India regarding personal details of RTI applicants circulation of.

In compliance of the directions of the Hon'ble High Court of Kolkata in its said order, a copy of the judgement (order) is enclosed here with for appropriate action.

2. This may be brought to the notice of all concerned.

sd/-

(Sandeep Jain)

Director

Source: www.persmin.gov.in

[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02rti/1_31_2013-IR.pdf]

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Strengthening Implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005

N0.4/10/2011-IR

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

….

North Block, New Delhi

Dated: 18th May 2011,

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Strengthening Implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Central Chief Information Commissioner has made a reference to the Cabinet Secretary making several suggestions for effective implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It has been decided in consultation with the Cabinet Secretariat that following actions shall be undertaken by all

Ministries/Departments/Attached Offices, PSUs of Central Government to Strengthen the implementation of the RTI Act:

a) In the Annual reports of the Central Ministries/Departments and other attached/subordinate offices PSUs, a separate chapter shall be included regarding implementation of the RTI Act in their respective offices. This chapter should detail the number of RTI applications received and disposed off during the year, including number of cases in which the information was denied. In addition to the above, efforts made to improve the implementation of the Act in their respective offices, including any innovative measures that have been undertaken, should also be listed. This is to be ensured for Annual reports for the year 201 1-12 onwards.

b) Each Ministry/Department should organize atleast a half day training programme for all CPIOs/Appellate Authorities (AAs) every year to sensitize them about their role in implementation of the RTI Act. The concerned Ministries/Deuartrnents shall ensure that similar programmes are organized for all CPIOs/AAs of all attached/subordinate offices and PSUs under their control as well.

c) All public authorities who have a web site shall publish the details of monthly receipts and disposal of RTI applications on the websites. This should be implemented within 10 days of the close of the month. Ministries/Departments would ensure that these instructions are communicated to their attached/subordinate offices as well as PSUs immediately. Monthly reporting on the above pattern should begin latest by 10th July, 2011 for the month of June, 2011 and thereafter continue on a regular basis.

2. All the Ministries/Departments are requested to take action as above and also to ensure that these instructions are communicated to their attached and subordinate offices PSUs for compliance.

CK.G.Verma

Director

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Laying of Annual Reports of the Central Information Commission before the Houses of Parliament

No.4/8/2011-IR 

Government of India 

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions 

Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi 

Dated: 20th May, 2011

OFFICE MEMORADUM

Subject: Laying of Annual Reports of the Central Information Commission before the Houses of Parliament.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Section 25 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 which provides that the Central Information Commission shall prepare a report on the implementation of the provisions of the Act each year, which the Central Government would lay before each House of Parliament. Each Ministry/Department is responsible to ensure that necessary information in relation to preparation of the Report is sent to the Central Information Commission by all public authorities within its jurisdiction in time. The Central Information Commission has developed a web based system through which the public authorities may upload the Annual Return on the website of the Commission direct. The software developed by the Commission is known as the RTI Annual Report Information System which is accessible on the website www.cic.gov.in. The information has to be posted on quarterly basis.

2. It has been observed that a number of public authorities do not upload the Annual Return in time on the system. It results in the delay of the preparation of the Annual Report and consequently in laying the Report before the Houses of the Parliament.

3. All the Ministries/Departments are requested to ensure that the quarterly returns of all public authorities under their jurisdiction is uploaded on the Annual Report Information System referred to above in time every year. The final Return for the year should be uploaded latest by the 15th April of the subsequent financial year. The public authorities who have not uploaded their final returns in respect of the year 2010-11 may upload the same on the website latest by 30th June, 2011.

4. It has also been brought to the notice of this Department that some Ministries/Departments have not registered all the public authorities under their jurisdiction with the Central Information Commission. It results into non-inclusion of the complete information in the Annuai Report. All the Ministries / Departments are requested to ensure that all public authorities under their jurisdiction are registered with the Commission and they all post requisite information on the website referred to above regularly.

(K.G. Verma) 

Director

Source: www.persmin.nic.in

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RTI applications regarding information concerning other public authority

N0.F. 10/2/2008-IR

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel. PG and Pensions

Department of Personnel 8, Training

******

North Block, New Delhi

Dated September 24,2010

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- RTI applications received by a public authority regarding information concerning other public authority/authorities.

                                                               ******

         The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's OM of even number dated

12Ih June, 2008 on the above noted subject, clause (iii) of para 3 of which provides that if a person makes an application to the public authority for information, a part of which is available with that public authority and the rest of the information is scattered with more than one other public authorities, the Public information Officer (PIO) of the public authority receiving the application should give information relating to it and advise the applicant to make separate applications to the concerned public authorities for obtaining information from them. It further provides that if no part of the information is available with the public authority receiving the application but scattered with more than one other public authorities, the PI0 should inform the applicant that information is not available with the public authority and that the applicant should make separate application to the concerned public authorities for obtaining information from them.

2. The matter has been examined in consultation with the Chief Information Commissioner, Central information Commission and it has been decided to advise the PlOs that if the details of public authorities who may have this information sought by the applicant are available with the PIO, such details may also be provided to the applicant.

3. Contents of this OM may be brought to the notice of all concerned.

 (K.G. Verma]

Director

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Functioning of RTI set up

An independent study, on the basis of a sample survey has pointed out that 12% of the women and 26% of men were aware of RTI Act. The study has also pointed out that more than 75% of the citizens were dissatisfied with the quality of information provided to them. The information in this regard is, however, not centrally maintained.




A Budget Estimate of Rs. 14.16 crore has been made under the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme on “Strengthening, Capacity Building and Awareness Generation for effective implementation of the RTI” for the year 2009-10. The Scheme is being implemented, inter alia, through State Information Commissions, State Administrative Training Institutes and Central Government Agencies.



Till 11.12.2009, a sum of about Rs. 3.63 crore has been spent. Financial proposals for utilizing additional funds are under examination/approval.



This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha

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Functioning of RTI set up

      An independent study, on the basis of a sample survey has  Pointed out that 12% of the women and 26% of men were aware of RTI Act. The study has also pointed out that more than 75% of the citizens were dissatisfied with the quality of information provided to them. The information in this regard is, however, not centrally maintained.

           A Budget Estimate of Rs. 14.16 crore has been made under the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme on “Strengthening, Capacity Building and Awareness Generation for effective implementation of the RTI” for the year 2009-10. The Scheme is being implemented, inter alia, through State Information Commissions, State Administrative Training Institutes and Central Government Agencies.

              Till 11.12.2009, a sum of about Rs. 3.63 crore has been spent. Financial proposals for utilizing additional funds are under examination/approval.

           This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha

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