RIGHTTOINFORMATIONACT,2005

INTRODUCTION
India being democratic Nation securing the liberty, freedom and rights of its
citizenundertheConstitutionofIndia, theCentralGovernmenthasenactedRightto
Information Act,2005 forpromotingtransparencyandaccountability intheworking
ofthePublicAuthority.
BasicfeaturesoftheRighttoInformationAct,2005
ThemainandbriefbasicfeaturesofthisActof2005areenumeratedasfollows:
1. ToempowereverycitizentoobtaininformationfromthePublicAuthority.
2. TopromotetransparencyandpracticalaccountabilityintheworkingofPublic
Authorities.
3. Tocheckcorruption.
4. Strengtheningthedemocracythroughitsinformedcitizens.
5. Empowering itscitizentoobtain inthe form like records,documents,email,
press release, advices, memos, opinions, circulars, orders, contract, reports,
papers,samplesetc.
6. Empoweringitscitizenforinspectionofrecords,takingnotes,certifiedcopies
etc.
7. ProvisionforConstitutionofStateInformationCommissionbytheState.
8. Provision forConstitutionof CentralInformationCommission bythe Central
Government.
9. Provision for appointment of Public Information Officer by the Public
Authorities including non governmental organization duly finance by the
CentralorStateGovernment.
10. Provision for designation of Public Information Officer by the Autonomous
InstitutionorAuthoritiesunderanyAct/Acts.
11. ProvisionforimposingobligationuponthePublicInformationOfficertogive
the information within 30 (thirty) days from the date of receiving the
application.
12. There is also provision for appointment of Assistant Public Information
OfficerattheSubDivisionalLevel.
13. However, the following Organization/Department are exempt from giving
InformationtothecitizenunderR.T.I.Act,2005.
i. IntelligenceBureau.
ii. ResearchandAnalysisWingoftheCabinetSecretariat.
iii. DirectorateofRevenueIntelligence.
iv. CentralEconomicIntelligenceBureau.
v. DirectorateofEnforcement.
vi. NarcoticsControlBureau.
vii. AviationResearchCentre.
viii. SpecialFrontierForce.
ix. BorderSecurityForce.
x. CentralReservePoliceForce.
xi. IndoTibetanBorderPolice.
xii. CentralIndustrialSecurityForce
xiii. NationalSecurityGuards.
xiv. AssamRifles.
xv. ShastraSeemaBal.
xvi. SpecialBranch(CID),AndamanandNicobar.
xvii. TheCrimeBranchCIDC.BDadraandNagarHaveli.
xviii. SpecialBranch,LakshadweepPolice.
xix. SpecialProtectionGroup.
xx. DefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganization.
xxi. BorderRoadDevelopmentBoard.
xxii. FinancialIntelligenceUnit,India.
14. There is also provision for inflicting penalty upon the Public Information
Officerwhofailtodischargetheirdutiesunderthis Act.ThePenalty may be
amountingRs.250/eachdaytillapplicationisreceivedorinformationisduly
furnishedtotheapplication.However,themaximumlimitofPenaltyshallbe
Rs.2500/.
Under this Act of 2005, every citizen of India is entitled to received
informationpertainingtotheaffairsofthePublicAuthority/Authoritiesincludingany
subjectstheapplicantswanttoknow.Applicantmayfiledtheirapplicationbeforeany
Public Information Officer by paying requisite fees prescribed by the Government
fromtimetotime.