Name -RAWAT VIJAY SONU
Course- B.s.c(prog) C.S second year
Roll no. – 232267
Sub- Digital Empowerment
What is RTI?
The Delhi Legislative Assembly and the Indian Parliament passed the Right to Information (RTI) Act,
which lays out the guidelines for citizens' access to information. The Freedom of Information Act of
2000 was superseded by it. Any Indian citizen may request information from a "public authority" (a
government agency or "instrumentality of state") under the terms of the RTI Act, and the "public
authority" must respond promptly, preferably within 30 days. The information must be given within 48
hours if the petitioner's life and liberty are at stake. Additionally, the Act mandates that all public
authorities computerize their data for widespread distribution and proactively disseminate specific
types of information so that citizens have the fewest options when requesting information.
SCOPE:
An application cannot be denied under the Act merely because it involves a lot of documentation. An
applicant cannot be asked to reapply; they can request 20 to 30 different types of information on the
same application. If the data released under
The Act's Section 4 (1) (b) is thorough, and appropriate information systems are kept up to date.
Even if an applicant seeks a lot of information in order to facilitate such disclosure, the
The applicant can get the same with little trouble. The right record
The implementation of management systems is also necessary. The applicant may be asked to
visit by a PIO.
directly visit his or her workplace at the designated time and date to examine the
necessary paperwork or
files.
In accordance with Section 7 (9), data
Right to Information:
The Right to Information Act of 2005 requires that citizen requests for government information be
answered promptly. In addition to giving citizens access to RTI-related information and disclosures
posted online by various Public Authorities under the Indian government and State Governments, the
Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, has
taken the initiative to provide an RTI Portal Gateway that allows citizens to quickly search for
information on the details of first Appellate Authorities, PIOs, and other entities.
Information Disclose:
Certain information must be proactively disclosed by public authorities without a request.
This comprises:
Operational Details: The organization's tasks and responsibilities.
Decision-Making Processes: The steps taken when making decisions.
Financial Data: Reports, expenses, and budgetary allotments2.
Information Request:
How to Submit an RTI Request
Determine the Public Authority: Find out which government agency has the data you
require. Create a draft of your application. Clearly state the information you are looking for
in your application. Add your name, address, and phone number.
Submit the Application: If the public authority offers an online portal, you can submit
your application online, by mail, or in person.
Pay the charge: Submitting an RTI request entails a small charge. You have three options for paying
the fee: cash, demand draft, or postal order. Online payments are also accepted by some authorities.
Get Acknowledgment: You ought to get an acknowledgment with a tracking reference number
as soon as your application is submitted.
RTI Filing Online
Online platforms for submitting RTI queries are provided by numerous governmental authorities.
For instance, you
Timeframe for Response:
According to the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005, the Public Information Officer (PIO) has
30 days from the date of application receipt to respond12. Here are some precise deadlines to
remember:
Typical Response Time: 30 days after the application is received.
Cases involving Life or Liberty: The response time is shortened to 48 hours if the information
pertains to an individual's life or liberty1.
Application Transfer: An extra five days are permitted if the application is sent to the Assistant PIO2.
Third Party Involvement: The PIO has 40 days to reply if the information concerns a third party1.
You can submit a first answer if you don't hear back within these deadlines.
Objective-
The fundamental goals of the Right to Information Act are to empower citizens, encourage
accountability and openness in government operations, combat corruption, and ensure that our
democracy truly serves the interests of the people.It goes without saying that an informed citizen is
better able to hold the government more accountable to the people and maintain the required watch
on its tools.The Act is a significant step in educating the public about government operations.
Function-
1. Empowering Citizens: RTI empowers citizens to request information from public
authorities, enabling them to participate more actively in the democratic process1.
2. Promoting Transparency: By mandating the disclosure of information, RTI helps ensure
that government operations are transparent and open to public scrutiny1.
3. Enhancing Accountability: Public authorities are held accountable for their actions
and decisions, as they are required to provide information and justify their actions
when requested1.
4. Combating Corruption: RTI is a powerful tool in the fight against corruption, as it
allows citizens to uncover misuse of public funds and other corrupt practices1.
5. Improving Governance: The act encourages better record-keeping and more efficient
administration, as public authorities know their actions are subject to public scrutiny 1.
Procedure-
Here is how to file an RTI:
• Visit the official RTI portal https://rtionline.gov.in.
• For submitting an RTI application click on submit request option.
• On clicking on submit request option 'Guidelines for use of RTI ONLINE PORTAL' screen will
be displayed. This screen contains various guidelines for using RTI online portal. Click on
the checkbox and then click on submit button.
• Then Online RTI Request Form screen will be displayed. Select Ministry or Department
for which the applicant wants to file an RTI from Select Ministry/Department/Apex body
dropdown.
• The applicant will receive SMS alerts in case he/she provides a mobile number. The
fields marked * are mandatory while the others are optional.
• If a citizen belongs to BPL category, he has to select the option 'Yes' in the 'Is the
applicant below the poverty line?' field and has to upload a BPL card certificate in the
supporting document field.
• On submission of the application, a unique registration number would be issued, which
may be referred by the applicant for any references in the future.
• If a citizen belongs to the Non-BPL category, he has to select the option 'No' in the 'Is
the applicant below the poverty line?' field.
• After filling in all the details in the form, click on the 'make payment' option.
• Now select the payment mode (internet banking, ATM-cum-debit card, or credit card).
Then click on Pay.
• Finally, the applicant will get an email and SMS alert on the submission of the
application. Disadvantage-
Disadvantages of RTI
1. Misuse of the Act: Some individuals misuse the RTI Act to harass public officials or
settle personal scores, leading to frivolous and vexatious requests1.
2. Burden on Public Authorities: The sheer volume of RTI applications can overwhelm
public authorities, diverting resources and attention from their primary functions1.
3. Confidentiality Concerns: There are instances where sensitive information, which could
compromise national security or personal privacy, might be inadvertently disclosed 1.
4. Implementation Challenges: Inconsistent implementation across different regions
and departments can lead to delays and inefficiencies in providing information2.
5. Lack of Awareness: Many citizens are still unaware of their rights under the RTI Act,
limiting its effectiveness1.
Despite these challenges, the RTI Act remains a powerful tool for promoting transparency
and accountability in governance.
Advantage-
Advantages of RTI
1. Anti-Corruption Tool: The RTI Act has been instrumental in uncovering various scams and
corruption cases by allowing citizens to access information about government activities 1.
2. Empowering Citizens: It empowers individuals by giving them the right to ask questions
and seek information from public authorities, thereby promoting active citizen
participation in governance1.
3. Strengthening Democracy: By ensuring that citizens have the right to access information,
the RTI Act strengthens democratic processes and promotes a more informed and engaged
citizenry1.
4. Transparency and Accountability: Public authorities are required to disclose information
proactively, which enhances transparency and holds officials accountable for their actions 1.
5. Improved Governance: The act encourages better record-keeping and more efficient
administration as public authorities are aware that their actions are subject to scrutiny 1.
Summary-
Objectives of RTI are giving citizens more power
Boost government openness and transparency to combat corruption
Make democracy work for the people.
Benefits
Information requests and more democratic participation are available to citizens.
The people can examine how the government operates.
Public officials are answerable for their deeds.
Access to information can reveal corruption.
The statute promotes more effective administration and improved record-keeping.
How to Submit an RTI:
Visit https://rtionline.gov.in, the official RTI website.
To submit your request, adhere to the detailed procedures provided.
Challenges:
Some people abuse the RTI for their own benefit or nuisance.
Public authorities may be overburdened by a high volume of requests.
Sensitive information could be unintentionally revealed.
Regional variations in implementation may result in delays.
The RTI rights of many citizens are not well known.
